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 21512160

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

The economic and employment data the Petitioner submitted pertained to the employer company as a whole, not to the Beneficiary's specific role. The importance of the profession or industry does not substitute for showing the specific prospective impact of the Beneficiary's own proposed endeavor.…

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The economic and employment data the Petitioner submitted pertained to the employer company as a whole, not to the Beneficiary's specific role. The importance of the profession or industry does not substitute for showing the specific prospective impact of the Beneficiary's own proposed endeavor. The Petitioner did not establish that the Beneficiary's work as a project controls engineer advances STEM technologies, has broader implications in the field, or has significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial economic benefits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B5203; source_row=41925
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 concluded that the Petitioner's evidence emphasized her personal expertise and the importance of the field, but did not show broader implications of her specific endeavor. Revenue and employment projections were unsupported, and operation in HUBZones was not shown to produce substantial positive economic effects of national importance. Expert and recommendation letters lacked probative value on prospective impact.

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AAO concluded that the Petitioner's evidence emphasized her personal expertise and the importance of the field, but did not show broader implications of her specific endeavor. Revenue and employment projections were unsupported, and operation in HUBZones was not shown to produce substantial positive economic effects of national importance. Expert and recommendation letters lacked probative value on prospective impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_04_B5203; source_row=41931
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 Petitioner did not demonstrate how his specific consulting work for prospective clients would broadly impact U.S. interests at a national level, and that the record lacked probative evidence of the company's realistic potential to generate revenue, create jobs, or expand. Evidence of the Petitioner's credentials and experience was deemed relevant to prong two, not prong one.

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AAO found that the Petitioner did not demonstrate how his specific consulting work for prospective clients would broadly impact U.S. interests at a national level, and that the record lacked probative evidence of the company's realistic potential to generate revenue, create jobs, or expand. Evidence of the Petitioner's credentials and experience was deemed relevant to prong two, not prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_05_B5203; source_row=41934
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not assert this criterion on appeal (and did not assert it before the Director), thereby waiving it.

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The Petitioner did not assert this criterion on appeal (and did not assert it before the Director), thereby waiving it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B2203; source_row=41919
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

high salary or remuneration in relation to others

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on criterion (viii) as unnecessary because three criteria were already satisfied.

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AAO reserved judgment on criterion (viii) as unnecessary because three criteria were already satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B2203; source_row=41921
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found criterion (i) satisfied based on the Petitioner's competition results.

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Both the Director and AAO found criterion (i) satisfied based on the Petitioner's competition results.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B2203; source_row=41914
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional publications

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on criterion (iii) as unnecessary because three criteria were already satisfied.

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AAO reserved judgment on criterion (iii) as unnecessary because three criteria were already satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B2203; source_row=41916
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found criterion (vii) satisfied.

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Both the Director and AAO found criterion (vii) satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B2203; source_row=41920
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 same or allied field

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that unlike many other athletic referees, Brazilian jiu-jitsu referees exercise discretion and subjective judgment in determining points and match outcomes, satisfying the judging criterion. AAO withdrew the Director's contrary conclusion.

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AAO found that unlike many other athletic referees, Brazilian jiu-jitsu referees exercise discretion and subjective judgment in determining points and match outcomes, satisfying the judging criterion. AAO withdrew the Director's contrary conclusion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B2203; source_row=41917
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on criterion (ii) as unnecessary because three criteria were already satisfied.

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AAO reserved judgment on criterion (ii) as unnecessary because three criteria were already satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-21_03_B2203; source_row=41915
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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