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 22412250

NIWten years experienceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

at least ten years of full-time experience in the 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 (B) 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 (B) 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=41792
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated 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

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to establish prong 1.

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 reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to establish prong 1.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_02_B5203; source_row=41790
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 did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to establish prong 1, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to establish prong 1, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_02_B5203; source_row=41789
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 did not reach this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under the first Dhanasar prong.

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 reach this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under the first Dhanasar prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_01_B5203; source_row=41787
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 did not reach this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under the first Dhanasar prong, making it unnecessary to address the remaining prongs.

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 did not reach this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under the first Dhanasar prong, making it unnecessary to address the remaining prongs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-15_01_B5203; source_row=41786
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or other remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the record lacked industry reports, comparisons to similar executives, or other probative evidence to support that the Petitioner commands a salary demonstrating exceptional ability.

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The AAO found the record lacked industry reports, comparisons to similar executives, or other probative evidence to support that the Petitioner commands a salary demonstrating exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-14_01_B5203; source_row=41763
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the Petitioner had not demonstrated that the associations relate to his job as chief executive, nor had he shown that these associations require a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent as minimum entry into the occupation.

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The AAO agreed that the Petitioner had not demonstrated that the associations relate to his job as chief executive, nor had he shown that these associations require a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent as minimum entry into the occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-14_01_B5203; source_row=41764
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's national importance analysis, finding the Director correctly identified evidentiary deficiencies and that the Petitioner failed to overcome those findings on appeal. New evidence submitted on appeal was not considered because the Petitioner had been given prior notice and opportunity to submit it in response to the RFE.

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 national importance analysis, finding the Director correctly identified evidentiary deficiencies and that the Petitioner failed to overcome those findings on appeal. New evidence submitted on appeal was not considered because the Petitioner had been given prior notice and opportunity to submit it in response to the RFE.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-14_02_B5203; source_row=41770
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that although the Petitioner's field of power grid research is broadly important, the record did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's specific proposed work had broader national or global implications. The Petitioner's evidence only described contributions from his current graduate work, and he failed to show how his future work at the university would impact the U.S.…

Why this is useful

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AAO found that although the Petitioner's field of power grid research is broadly important, the record did not demonstrate that the Petitioner's specific proposed work had broader national or global implications. The Petitioner's evidence only described contributions from his current graduate work, and he failed to show how his future work at the university would impact the U.S. power grid or offer original innovations at a level of national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-14_06_B5203; source_row=41779
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed with the Director that the proposed endeavor lacks national importance, explaining that background/experience is immaterial to prong 1, the employment verification letter does not establish national impact, and benefits to the employer would be offset by negative effects on ports and other entities.

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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The AAO agreed with the Director that the proposed endeavor lacks national importance, explaining that background/experience is immaterial to prong 1, the employment verification letter does not establish national impact, and benefits to the employer would be offset by negative effects on ports and other entities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-14_04_B5203; source_row=41776
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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