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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 2021–2030
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
EconomicsPhD
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement
What the decision said
AAO remanded the third prong for reevaluation in light of a corrected analysis of the first two prongs.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
View full reasoning +
AAO remanded the third prong for reevaluation in light of a corrected analysis of the first two prongs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_02_B5203; source_row=42141 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
EconomicsPhD
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
What the decision said
AAO directed the Director on remand to re-evaluate whether the Petitioner is well positioned to advance the (correctly characterized) specific proposed endeavor.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
View full reasoning +
AAO directed the Director on remand to re-evaluate whether the Petitioner is well positioned to advance the (correctly characterized) specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_02_B5203; source_row=42140 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
OtherEngineerMaster’s
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Leading / critical role
leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO agreed the leading role criterion is met but noted the Petitioner's U.S. company appears to be in an early startup phase and has not established a distinguished reputation; there is no wider pattern of recognition.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO agreed the leading role criterion is met but noted the Petitioner's U.S. company appears to be in an early startup phase and has not established a distinguished reputation; there is no wider pattern of recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_02_B2203; source_row=42137 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed the articles satisfy the criterion but noted the Petitioner did not establish the impact of his published work through journal rankings or citation counts.
Why this is useful
See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.
View full reasoning +
AAO agreed the articles satisfy the criterion but noted the Petitioner did not establish the impact of his published work through journal rankings or citation counts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_02_B2203; source_row=42136 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed that peer review and jury service satisfy the criterion, but noted the Petitioner did not show how the journal selects peer reviewers, did not establish the significance of the competition, and the competition had not yet occurred at the time of filing.
Why this is useful
See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.
View full reasoning +
AAO agreed that peer review and jury service satisfy the criterion, but noted the Petitioner did not show how the journal selects peer reviewers, did not establish the significance of the competition, and the competition had not yet occurred at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_02_B2203; source_row=42134 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
membership in professional associations (criterion E)
Why AAO was not persuaded
Neither NALA nor NFPA require a U.S. bachelor's degree for membership and therefore do not qualify as professional associations under the regulation. ABA membership evidence was absent from the record, and the AILA printout showed the Petitioner was ineligible for membership and classified as a student.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
Neither NALA nor NFPA require a U.S. bachelor's degree for membership and therefore do not qualify as professional associations under the regulation. ABA membership evidence was absent from the record, and the AILA printout showed the Petitioner was ineligible for membership and classified as a student.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_07_B5203; source_row=42164 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from institute of learning (criterion A)
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner established a degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from an institute of learning relating to the area of exceptional ability.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner established a degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from an institute of learning relating to the area of exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_07_B5203; source_row=42163 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field (criterion F)
Why AAO was not persuaded
The recommendation letters were complimentary but did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's work amounted to significant contributions to the broader legal industry or field; they addressed her performance at specific employers rather than field-wide impact.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The recommendation letters were complimentary but did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's work amounted to significant contributions to the broader legal industry or field; they addressed her performance at specific employers rather than field-wide impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-12-03_07_B5203; source_row=42165 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c