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 21212130

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

Case facts

OtherManagerBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO previously affirmed denial under (ii); the new evidence regarding AADE board/steering committee did not establish membership reserved for those with national/international acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO previously affirmed denial under (ii); the new evidence regarding AADE board/steering committee did not establish membership reserved for those with national/international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_03_B2203; source_row=41963
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManagerBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO weighed the totality of the evidence and found Petitioner did not demonstrate sustained national/international acclaim or top-of-field standing.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO weighed the totality of the evidence and found Petitioner did not demonstrate sustained national/international acclaim or top-of-field standing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_03_B2203; source_row=41970
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Beneficiary's accounting management services would not have broader implications beyond her company and its clients, and that the Petitioner failed to provide corroborating evidence of claimed job creation or substantial positive economic effects attributable to the Beneficiary's specific work.

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 found that the Beneficiary's accounting management services would not have broader implications beyond her company and its clients, and that the Petitioner failed to provide corroborating evidence of claimed job creation or substantial positive economic effects attributable to the Beneficiary's specific work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_01_B5203; source_row=41954
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 explicitly reserved this prong, declining to address it because the dispositive first-prong failure rendered it unnecessary to reach.

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 explicitly reserved this prong, declining to address it because the dispositive first-prong failure rendered it unnecessary to reach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_05_B5203; source_row=41979
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted that letters praising the Petitioner's skills are relevant to prong two, but declined to reach this prong because the case was dispositive on prong one's national importance requirement.

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 noted that letters praising the Petitioner's skills are relevant to prong two, but declined to reach this prong because the case was dispositive on prong one's national importance requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_08_B5203; source_row=41988
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO did not address prong three, as the case was decided against the Petitioner on prong one.

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 did not address prong three, as the case was decided against the Petitioner on prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_08_B5203; source_row=41989
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the second prong because its finding on national importance under prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

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 declined to reach the second prong because its finding on national importance under prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_09_B5203; source_row=41991
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong because its finding on national importance under prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

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 declined to reach the third prong because its finding on national importance under prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_09_B5203; source_row=41992
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination – sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the record shows limited competition history ending in 2015, modest media coverage, and community recognition within Argentina, but does not rise to the level of sustained national or international acclaim required for the classification.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the record shows limited competition history ending in 2015, modest media coverage, and community recognition within Argentina, but does not rise to the level of sustained national or international acclaim required for the classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_02_B2203; source_row=41962
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others in the field

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met criterion (iv) by documenting his participation as a judge in two downhill longboard competitions held in Argentina in 2018 and 2022.

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 met criterion (iv) by documenting his participation as a judge in two downhill longboard competitions held in Argentina in 2018 and 2022.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-22_02_B2203; source_row=41960
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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