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 22312240

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 found that while protecting domestic violence victims has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to establish national importance because it did not demonstrate broader implications beyond the impact on prospective customers.

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AAO found that while protecting domestic violence victims has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to establish national importance because it did not demonstrate broader implications beyond the impact on prospective customers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_01_B5203; source_row=41785
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The USFBJJ evidence failed because details about the founder's biography do not establish the organization's membership requirements or that it requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. The new IBJJF certificate was both undocumented as to membership requirements and post-dated the July 2023 filing date by nearly a year, failing the eligibility-at-time-of-filing requirement.

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The USFBJJ evidence failed because details about the founder's biography do not establish the organization's membership requirements or that it requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. The new IBJJF certificate was both undocumented as to membership requirements and post-dated the July 2023 filing date by nearly a year, failing the eligibility-at-time-of-filing requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_01_B2203; source_row=41782
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 the Petitioner's IT endeavor did not demonstrate broader implications to the field at the level of national importance required under Dhanasar, and did not show substantial economic effects beyond benefits to former employers and the industry generally.

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AAO found the Petitioner's IT endeavor did not demonstrate broader implications to the field at the level of national importance required under Dhanasar, and did not show substantial economic effects beyond benefits to former employers and the industry generally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_02_B5203; source_row=41788
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's prospective impact would not extend beyond her prospective clients to impact the industry or field more broadly. The business plan's revenue and job creation projections were insufficiently explained and did not demonstrate operations at a scale rising to national importance.…

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The Petitioner's prospective impact would not extend beyond her prospective clients to impact the industry or field more broadly. The business plan's revenue and job creation projections were insufficiently explained and did not demonstrate operations at a scale rising to national importance. The Petitioner did not demonstrate how her company's anti-corruption services would meaningfully address corruption or result in substantial economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_04_B5203; source_row=41800
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the articles and reports do not specifically discuss the Petitioner's endeavor or broader implications, projected economic impacts rest on assumptions, labor shortages are addressed through labor certification, and STEM/HUBZone associations are tangential and unsupported. Expert letters are conclusory.

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AAO concluded the articles and reports do not specifically discuss the Petitioner's endeavor or broader implications, projected economic impacts rest on assumptions, labor shortages are addressed through labor certification, and STEM/HUBZone associations are tangential and unsupported. Expert letters are conclusory.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_05_B5203; source_row=41803
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Director applied correct preponderance standard

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director followed applicable regulations and procedures and properly applied the preponderance standard.

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AAO found the Director followed applicable regulations and procedures and properly applied the preponderance standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_05_B5203; source_row=41806
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner failed to establish prong one, the AAO reserved review of the Director's prong two determination as unnecessary to the outcome.

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Because the Petitioner failed to establish prong one, the AAO reserved review of the Director's prong two determination as unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_06_B5203; source_row=41808
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's certificates do not constitute 'official academic records' and the issuers were not shown to be a college, university, school, or other institution of learning. The petitioner's motion-stage assertion was too general and did not address AAO's specific reasons for discounting the certificates.

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AAO found that the petitioner's certificates do not constitute 'official academic records' and the issuers were not shown to be a college, university, school, or other institution of learning. The petitioner's motion-stage assertion was too general and did not address AAO's specific reasons for discounting the certificates.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_03_B5203; source_row=41791
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification to practice the profession or occupation

What the decision said

AAO reserved consideration of this criterion because the petitioner had already failed to meet criterion (A), making it unnecessary to reach criterion (C) to determine that he could not satisfy the three-criteria minimum.

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AAO reserved consideration of this criterion because the petitioner had already failed to meet criterion (A), making it unnecessary to reach criterion (C) to determine that he could not satisfy the three-criteria minimum.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_03_B5203; source_row=41793
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

What the decision said

AAO noted that the petitioner did not claim to meet this criterion.

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AAO noted that the petitioner did not claim to meet this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_03_B5203; source_row=41794
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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