Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.

This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.

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10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 18931–18940

NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner's motion failed to address AAO's prior finding on national scope. NYSDOT itself cites schoolteachers as an example of a meritorious occupation that lacks national scope.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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Petitioner's motion failed to address AAO's prior finding on national scope. NYSDOT itself cites schoolteachers as an example of a meritorious occupation that lacks national scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-29_01_B5203; source_row=19311
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

Intrinsic merit of teaching was not at issue.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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Intrinsic merit of teaching was not at issue.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-29_01_B5203; source_row=19310
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

benefit to the national interest substantially greater than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds no documentary evidence that petitioner's work has impacted the field beyond her classroom. Service-center approvals are not binding, and meeting the No Child Left Behind 'highly qualified teacher' definition does not entitle a teacher to an NIW.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO finds no documentary evidence that petitioner's work has impacted the field beyond her classroom. Service-center approvals are not binding, and meeting the No Child Left Behind 'highly qualified teacher' definition does not entitle a teacher to an NIW.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-29_01_B5203; source_row=19312
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree qualification (five years progressive post-baccalaureate experience)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the beneficiary's foreign equivalent bachelor's degree plus the required five years of progressive post-baccalaureate work experience, all accrued prior to the priority date, satisfies the advanced degree requirement under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found that the beneficiary's foreign equivalent bachelor's degree plus the required five years of progressive post-baccalaureate work experience, all accrued prior to the priority date, satisfies the advanced degree requirement under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-28_01_B5203; source_row=19309
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner was a pioneer in preference market research, with expert letters confirming he was the first to study incentive mechanisms of information markets, and companies such as a major corporation implementing his research findings, establishing original contributions of major significance.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO found the petitioner was a pioneer in preference market research, with expert letters confirming he was the first to study incentive mechanisms of information markets, and companies such as a major corporation implementing his research findings, establishing original contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-28_01_B2203; source_row=19306
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that in the aggregate the petitioner's original contributions, company reliance on his work, publication in highly-ranked journals, citation impact, and judging experience established sustained national or international acclaim and that he is among the small percentage at the very top of his field.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found that in the aggregate the petitioner's original contributions, company reliance on his work, publication in highly-ranked journals, citation impact, and judging experience established sustained national or international acclaim and that he is among the small percentage at the very top of his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-28_01_B2203; source_row=19308
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's evidence of serving as a journal reviewer satisfied the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's evidence of serving as a journal reviewer satisfied the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-28_01_B2203; source_row=19305
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's published scholarly articles satisfied the authorship criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's published scholarly articles satisfied the authorship criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-28_01_B2203; source_row=19307
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner submitted insufficient evidence that the chapter has a distinguished reputation. The chapter only became seriously active in 2010 and welcomes members in the top 15% of their class, which does not establish the requisite distinguished reputation. Additionally, the record did not show the beneficiary performed a leading or critical role for the organization as a whole.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found that the petitioner submitted insufficient evidence that the chapter has a distinguished reputation. The chapter only became seriously active in 2010 and welcomes members in the top 15% of their class, which does not establish the requisite distinguished reputation. Additionally, the record did not show the beneficiary performed a leading or critical role for the organization as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-27_03_B2203; source_row=19302
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that offers of admission are not prizes or awards, and the applicant pool for degree programs is limited to students or entry-level professionals, not the field as a whole. The petitioner also abandoned the challenge to the director's finding on student awards by not raising it on appeal.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found that offers of admission are not prizes or awards, and the applicant pool for degree programs is limited to students or entry-level professionals, not the field as a whole. The petitioner also abandoned the challenge to the director's finding on student awards by not raising it on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-04-27_03_B2203; source_row=19299
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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