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 23712380

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2017 letter praises the Petitioner's work but does not establish receipt of a prize or award, was not given for excellence in his stated field of ecology, and does not relate to his previously submitted certificate of merit.

Why this is useful

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The 2017 letter praises the Petitioner's work but does not establish receipt of a prize or award, was not given for excellence in his stated field of ecology, and does not relate to his previously submitted certificate of merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_03_B2203; source_row=41529
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

What the decision said

The Director found this criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb that finding on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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The Director found this criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb that finding on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_02_B2203; source_row=41524
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

adequate notice and explanation of misrepresentation finding

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Director entered a willful misrepresentation finding without identifying specific evidence or providing explanation, and without affording the Petitioner an opportunity to rebut the finding.

Why this is useful

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The Director entered a willful misrepresentation finding without identifying specific evidence or providing explanation, and without affording the Petitioner an opportunity to rebut the finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_02_B2203; source_row=41525
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

What the decision said

AAO does not reach this criterion; the Director's analysis was inadequate and the matter is remanded.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO does not reach this criterion; the Director's analysis was inadequate and the matter is remanded.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_02_B2203; source_row=41523
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

What the decision said

AAO does not reach a substantive conclusion on this criterion because the Director's analysis was insufficient; the matter is remanded.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO does not reach a substantive conclusion on this criterion because the Director's analysis was insufficient; the matter is remanded.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_02_B2203; source_row=41521
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO does not reach this criterion because the Director's reasoning was inadequate; the matter is remanded for a new decision with sufficient explanation.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO does not reach this criterion because the Director's reasoning was inadequate; the matter is remanded for a new decision with sufficient explanation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_02_B2203; source_row=41522
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner

What the decision said

AAO does not reach a substantive conclusion on this criterion because the Director failed to adequately explain the basis for finding it not met; the matter is remanded.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO does not reach a substantive conclusion on this criterion because the Director failed to adequately explain the basis for finding it not met; the matter is remanded.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_02_B2203; source_row=41520
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner

What the decision said

AAO reserves consideration of this criterion because the Petitioner cannot meet the required three criteria regardless.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserves consideration of this criterion because the Petitioner cannot meet the required three criteria regardless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_03_B2203; source_row=41531
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO reserves consideration of this criterion as unnecessary because the Petitioner cannot meet three criteria.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO reserves consideration of this criterion as unnecessary because the Petitioner cannot meet three criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_03_B2203; source_row=41532
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

The AAO declined to reach the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong 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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The AAO declined to reach the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-30_02_B5203; source_row=41527
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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