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 25312540

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s92 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that substantial merit was established but disagreed on national importance. AAO found that the Director erred by focusing only on economic factors, and that the record — including academic support letters and evidence of broader dissemination — demonstrated national importance of the research.

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 agreed with the Director that substantial merit was established but disagreed on national importance. AAO found that the Director erred by focusing only on economic factors, and that the record — including academic support letters and evidence of broader dissemination — demonstrated national importance of the research.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-08_02_B5203; source_row=41262
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s92 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong three, reserving the issue as unnecessary to the result given the dispositive failure on prong two.

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 declined to reach prong three, reserving the issue as unnecessary to the result given the dispositive failure on prong two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-08_02_B5203; source_row=41264
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

EB-2 exceptional ability qualification

What the decision said

AAO reserved the exceptional ability issue as unnecessary given the dispositive NIW finding.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reserved the exceptional ability issue as unnecessary given the dispositive NIW finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-08_01_B5203; source_row=41258
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong because the EB-2 ineligibility was dispositive.

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 reserved this prong because the EB-2 ineligibility was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-07_02_B5203; source_row=41252
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Membership in professional associations (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner did not show any of these organizations require members to hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, so they do not qualify as professional associations under the regulations.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the Petitioner did not show any of these organizations require members to hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, so they do not qualify as professional associations under the regulations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-07_02_B5203; source_row=41249
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Member of the professions holding an advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concurred with the Director, noting the Petitioner did not contest this 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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AAO concurred with the Director, noting the Petitioner did not contest this finding on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-07_02_B5203; source_row=41251
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Salary or other remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed because the Petitioner did not provide supporting figures, did not bridge the five-year gap between his 2013–2018 wages and the 2023 average data, and did not account for variation in hours worked across employers.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed because the Petitioner did not provide supporting figures, did not bridge the five-year gap between his 2013–2018 wages and the 2023 average data, and did not account for variation in hours worked across employers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-07_02_B5203; source_row=41248
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Recognition of achievements/significant contributions (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(F))

What the decision said

AAO reserved this criterion as unnecessary given the Petitioner failed to meet at least three criteria overall.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reserved this criterion as unnecessary given the Petitioner failed to meet at least three criteria overall.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-07_02_B5203; source_row=41250
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Ten years of full-time experience in the proposed occupation (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(B))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the letters concerned employment as a radiology technician rather than as a general and operations manager (the proposed endeavor) and, except for one, lacked specific duty descriptions required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1).

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the letters concerned employment as a radiology technician rather than as a general and operations manager (the proposed endeavor) and, except for one, lacked specific duty descriptions required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-07_02_B5203; source_row=41246
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Official academic record (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A))

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the diploma in radiology relates to the claimed area of exceptional ability and satisfies the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the diploma in radiology relates to the claimed area of exceptional ability and satisfies the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-07_02_B5203; source_row=41245
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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