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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 24712480

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 reaffirmed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate broader implications or substantially positive economic effects at a level commensurate with national importance, and that post-filing developments such as Florida registration could not be considered.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO reaffirmed that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate broader implications or substantially positive economic effects at a level commensurate with national importance, and that post-filing developments such as Florida registration could not be considered.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-17_04_B5203; source_row=41373
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 found on prior appeal that the personal statement focused on the value of business process management generally rather than the prospective impact of the proposed endeavor, the expert opinion focused on project managers as a whole rather than the specific endeavor, and the submitted articles addressed aspects of the field rather than the specific endeavor.…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO found on prior appeal that the personal statement focused on the value of business process management generally rather than the prospective impact of the proposed endeavor, the expert opinion focused on project managers as a whole rather than the specific endeavor, and the submitted articles addressed aspects of the field rather than the specific endeavor. On motion, the Petitioner did not show these findings were incorrect.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-17_02_B5203; source_row=41367
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 reaffirms its prior conclusion that the record did not show broader implications beyond the business's own clients and did not support the projected economic effects.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO reaffirms its prior conclusion that the record did not show broader implications beyond the business's own clients and did not support the projected economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-17_01_B5203; source_row=41360
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published materials

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the published materials criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the published materials criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-17_01_B2203; source_row=41354
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the artistic exhibitions criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the artistic exhibitions criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-17_01_B2203; source_row=41357
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The record supports the Director's finding that the Petitioner participated as a judge of others' work in his field.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The record supports the Director's finding that the Petitioner participated as a judge of others' work in his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-17_02_B2203; source_row=41363
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-16_02_B5203; source_row=41351
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

Considering the totality of the evidence — the petitioner's education, expertise in econometrics and finance, recognition through citations, recommendation letters describing the significance of his research, a best paper award, peer review activity, and a foreign professor's request to use his software — AAO concluded petitioner is well-positioned to advance the endeavor.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
Considering the totality of the evidence — the petitioner's education, expertise in econometrics and finance, recognition through citations, recommendation letters describing the significance of his research, a best paper award, peer review activity, and a foreign professor's request to use his software — AAO concluded petitioner is well-positioned to advance the endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-16_02_B5203; source_row=41352
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO identified strong positive factors including the petitioner's advanced STEM degree tied to the endeavor, his published research and peer review, his knowledge and skills, his progress on the endeavor, and academic support, and concluded the United States benefits from his contributions even if qualified U.S. workers are available.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO identified strong positive factors including the petitioner's advanced STEM degree tied to the endeavor, his published research and peer review, his knowledge and skills, his progress on the endeavor, and academic support, and concluded the United States benefits from his contributions even if qualified U.S. workers are available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-16_02_B5203; source_row=41353
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic EngineeringPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that substantial merit was shown, but disagreed on national importance. The Petitioner's research has broad implications for the entire medical imaging field, and he is employed on a $70 million federally-funded project developing first-of-its-kind multi-functional ultrasound systems for use in hospitals, pandemic response, pediatrics, and underserved communities.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that substantial merit was shown, but disagreed on national importance. The Petitioner's research has broad implications for the entire medical imaging field, and he is employed on a $70 million federally-funded project developing first-of-its-kind multi-functional ultrasound systems for use in hospitals, pandemic response, pediatrics, and underserved communities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-16_01_B5203; source_row=41348
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment