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 23012310

NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanding a salary demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's salary evidence, including pay records, a complimentary employer letter, and third-party salary reports from payscale.com and salary explorer, failed to demonstrate that her remuneration was indicative of exceptional ability relative to others working in her field. The salary comparison data was based on different job titles, unclear geographic coverage, or did not address her specific role.

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The Petitioner's salary evidence, including pay records, a complimentary employer letter, and third-party salary reports from payscale.com and salary explorer, failed to demonstrate that her remuneration was indicative of exceptional ability relative to others working in her field. The salary comparison data was based on different job titles, unclear geographic coverage, or did not address her specific role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_03_B5203; source_row=41640
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner failed to show a record of success or progress in advancing his own proposed entrepreneurial endeavor as of the January 2021 filing date. Evidence of D-P-C-'s research funding, the co-authored manuscript, the invention disclosure assigning rights to their employer, and the provisional patent application all either related to D-P-C-'s work rather than the Petitioner's endeavor, or post-dated the filing and cou…

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner failed to show a record of success or progress in advancing his own proposed entrepreneurial endeavor as of the January 2021 filing date. Evidence of D-P-C-'s research funding, the co-authored manuscript, the invention disclosure assigning rights to their employer, and the provisional patent application all either related to D-P-C-'s work rather than the Petitioner's endeavor, or post-dated the filing and could not establish eligibility at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_01_B5203; source_row=41632
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the industry reports and discussion of sustainable techniques addressed the importance of the field rather than the specific proposed endeavor, and that the business plan's projection of 17 full-time employees over five years and a $50,000 initial investment from a partner did not sufficiently demonstrate national or global implications or significant potential to employ U.S.…

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The AAO found that the industry reports and discussion of sustainable techniques addressed the importance of the field rather than the specific proposed endeavor, and that the business plan's projection of 17 full-time employees over five years and a $50,000 initial investment from a partner did not sufficiently demonstrate national or global implications or significant potential to employ U.S. workers or produce substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_02_B5203; source_row=41634
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

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 did not reach prong two.

Why this is useful

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Because the Petitioner failed to establish prong one, the AAO did not reach prong two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_02_B5203; source_row=41635
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner failed to establish prong one, the AAO did not reach prong three.

Why this is useful

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Because the Petitioner failed to establish prong one, the AAO did not reach prong three.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_02_B5203; source_row=41636
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

one-time major internationally recognized award

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest this determination on appeal, so it was treated as waived.

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The Petitioner did not contest this determination on appeal, so it was treated as waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_01_B2203; source_row=41625
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's appeal letter did not address the Director's specific adverse findings about the publications' limited reach and demise, and therefore the Petitioner failed to overcome the Director's determination.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's appeal letter did not address the Director's specific adverse findings about the publications' limited reach and demise, and therefore the Petitioner failed to overcome the Director's determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_01_B2203; source_row=41627
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner could not satisfy three criteria even if criterion (iv) were resolved in his favor, AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary to reach.

Why this is useful

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Because the Petitioner could not satisfy three criteria even if criterion (iv) were resolved in his favor, AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary to reach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_01_B2203; source_row=41628
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

AAO agreed with the Director that criterion (i) was satisfied.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with the Director that criterion (i) was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_01_B2203; source_row=41626
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 to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the third prong as the second prong was dispositive.

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 the third prong as the second prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-11-05_01_B5203; source_row=41633
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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