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 20512060

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor lacked national importance, noting the Petitioner failed to identify any specific error in the Director's determination on appeal.

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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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor lacked national importance, noting the Petitioner failed to identify any specific error in the Director's determination on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_04_B5203; source_row=42089
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding that national health initiatives such as the CDC's Active People, Healthy Nation program demonstrate the importance of exercise physiology.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO disagreed with the Director on substantial merit, finding that national health initiatives such as the CDC's Active People, Healthy Nation program demonstrate the importance of exercise physiology. However, AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to establish national importance, as the proposed endeavor's economic projections (up to 20 employees and $3.6M revenue by 2029), alignment with adjacent national initiatives, and societal benefits claims did not show prospective impact beyond the Petitioner's workplace and clients to the broader field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_02_B5203; source_row=42083
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner failed to sufficiently separate his proposed endeavor from his employment goals, did not provide enough detail about his specific research projects to evaluate national importance, and did not show prospective impact beyond his employer and clients. The recommendation letters addressed prior research rather than the proposed endeavor and did not demonstrate national or global impact.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the Petitioner failed to sufficiently separate his proposed endeavor from his employment goals, did not provide enough detail about his specific research projects to evaluate national importance, and did not show prospective impact beyond his employer and clients. The recommendation letters addressed prior research rather than the proposed endeavor and did not demonstrate national or global impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_01_B5203; source_row=42080
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO concurred with the Director's finding that the Petitioner is well positioned to advance the endeavor and declined to further address the matter, as the Director had already found this prong satisfied.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concurred with the Director's finding that the Petitioner is well positioned to advance the endeavor and declined to further address the matter, as the Director had already found this prong satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_03_B5203; source_row=42087
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner's expertise, track record of successful research and development, and the significance of that work to advance U.S. computer science interests means his contributions are of sufficient value that the United States would benefit from waiving the labor certification requirement even assuming other qualified U.S. workers are available.

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 found that the Petitioner's expertise, track record of successful research and development, and the significance of that work to advance U.S. computer science interests means his contributions are of sufficient value that the United States would benefit from waiving the labor certification requirement even assuming other qualified U.S. workers are available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_03_B5203; source_row=42088
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner demonstrated both substantial merit through his research in stream processing and machine learning—supported by letters from colleagues and citation growth—and national importance through the broad dissemination of results and inclusion of his field on the Critical and Emerging Technologies List.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner demonstrated both substantial merit through his research in stream processing and machine learning—supported by letters from colleagues and citation growth—and national importance through the broad dissemination of results and inclusion of his field on the Critical and Emerging Technologies List.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_03_B5203; source_row=42086
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_02_B5203; source_row=42084
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision, having found the first prong dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_02_B5203; source_row=42085
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO finds the Petitioner's introduction of Turkey's first MBR wastewater treatment system, his solution for membrane tears now used nationwide, and his development of a pool operator training program later codified by Turkey's health and education ministries as a national legal requirement constitute contributions of major significance in the field of water treatment.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO finds the Petitioner's introduction of Turkey's first MBR wastewater treatment system, his solution for membrane tears now used nationwide, and his development of a pool operator training program later codified by Turkey's health and education ministries as a national legal requirement constitute contributions of major significance in the field of water treatment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-27_01_B2203; source_row=42076
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The platform's admission criteria (alignment with company values and possessing 'mystery, swagger, and confidence') do not constitute outstanding achievements. The selecting body was not shown to be recognized national or international experts in the field. Platinum status appears to be an objective, points-based threshold rather than a judgment by experts of outstanding achievement.

Why this is useful

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

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The platform's admission criteria (alignment with company values and possessing 'mystery, swagger, and confidence') do not constitute outstanding achievements. The selecting body was not shown to be recognized national or international experts in the field. Platinum status appears to be an objective, points-based threshold rather than a judgment by experts of outstanding achievement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-26_07_B2203; source_row=42065
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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