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 1120

EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

memberships in associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letters and evidence provided general information about the curriculum support team but did not outline the specific membership requirements or selection process. Furthermore, the Petitioner failed to show that outstanding achievements of team members are judged by recognized national or international experts; her focus on the team's work being reviewed by WASC and CABE was misplaced because the criterion requires exper…

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The letters and evidence provided general information about the curriculum support team but did not outline the specific membership requirements or selection process. Furthermore, the Petitioner failed to show that outstanding achievements of team members are judged by recognized national or international experts; her focus on the team's work being reviewed by WASC and CABE was misplaced because the criterion requires experts to judge individual members' achievements, not the work of the team.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_01_B2203; source_row=45245
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other43 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the leading or critical role criterion.

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AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the leading or critical role criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_02_B2203; source_row=45259
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other43 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the published material criterion.

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AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the published material criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_02_B2203; source_row=45255
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other43 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion.

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AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_02_B2203; source_row=45258
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other43 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion.

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AAO concurred with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_02_B2203; source_row=45256
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Notice of Intent to Revoke (NOIR) required before revocation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the record contains no evidence that SCOPS issued a NOIR to the Petitioner before revoking the petition's approval, contradicting SCOPS' assertion.

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AAO found that the record contains no evidence that SCOPS issued a NOIR to the Petitioner before revoking the petition's approval, contradicting SCOPS' assertion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_01_B5203; source_row=45252
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the first prong because the second prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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AAO reserved its opinion on the first prong because the second prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_04_B5203; source_row=45278
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the third prong because the second prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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AAO reserved its opinion on the third prong because the second prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_04_B5203; source_row=45280
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

What the decision said

Petitioner did not address advanced-degree eligibility on appeal, so the issue is waived.

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Petitioner did not address advanced-degree eligibility on appeal, so the issue is waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_02_B5203; source_row=45262
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

SCOPS found the Petitioner well-positioned; AAO did not separately analyze prong 2.

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SCOPS found the Petitioner well-positioned; AAO did not separately analyze prong 2.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-30_02_B5203; source_row=45265
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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