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 27412750

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO withdrew the Director's second-prong denial because the Director failed to adequately address the evidence and did not provide sufficient explanation, precluding meaningful appellate review. The matter was remanded for a proper analysis.

Why this is useful

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AAO withdrew the Director's second-prong denial because the Director failed to adequately address the evidence and did not provide sufficient explanation, precluding meaningful appellate review. The matter was remanded for a proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_08_B5203; source_row=40947
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

AAO withdrew the Director's third-prong denial because without a proper evaluation of the Dhanasar third-prong factors, there was no meaningful basis for appellate review. The matter was remanded for a complete analysis.

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 withdrew the Director's third-prong denial because without a proper evaluation of the Dhanasar third-prong factors, there was no meaningful basis for appellate review. The matter was remanded for a complete analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_08_B5203; source_row=40948
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 waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong as unnecessary given the dispositive finding against the Petitioner on the national importance aspect of the first 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 reserved this prong as unnecessary given the dispositive finding against the Petitioner on the national importance aspect of the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_04_B5203; source_row=40935
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the EB-2 classification issue (and did not reach remaining Dhanasar prongs) given its finding against the Petitioner on the national importance aspect of the first prong.

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 reserved the EB-2 classification issue (and did not reach remaining Dhanasar prongs) given its finding against the Petitioner on the national importance aspect of the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_04_B5203; source_row=40934
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO declined to disturb the Director's finding that this criterion was met.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to disturb the Director's finding that this criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_01_B2203; source_row=40920
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director erred by failing to cite any record evidence supporting the characterization of the Forbes Finance Council as merely a networking platform, and by treating the fee requirement as disqualifying when the evidence showed outstanding-achievement review was also required. The council official's letter described a legitimate selection process judged by recognized experts.

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AAO found the Director erred by failing to cite any record evidence supporting the characterization of the Forbes Finance Council as merely a networking platform, and by treating the fee requirement as disqualifying when the evidence showed outstanding-achievement review was also required. The council official's letter described a legitimate selection process judged by recognized experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_01_B2203; source_row=40916
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 waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong three because the failure to establish national importance under prong one 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 declined to reach prong three because the failure to establish national importance under prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_02_B5203; source_row=40932
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong two because the failure to establish national importance under prong one was dispositive.

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 declined to reach prong two because the failure to establish national importance under prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_02_B5203; source_row=40931
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not revisit prong two; the prong-one failure was dispositive.

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 revisit prong two; the prong-one failure was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_06_B5203; source_row=40940
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to address whether it agreed with the Director's prong-two finding because the prong-one determination was dispositive.

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 declined to address whether it agreed with the Director's prong-two finding because the prong-one determination was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-24_05_B5203; source_row=40937
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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