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 28112820

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong is 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 reserved its opinion on the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_11_B5203; source_row=40831
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagrees with the Director and finds the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence—including award documentation, portfolio management of a $50 million division, leadership of a $97 million project, and detailed support letters—to establish leading and critical roles at distinguished multi-billion-dollar companies.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO disagrees with the Director and finds the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence—including award documentation, portfolio management of a $50 million division, leadership of a $97 million project, and detailed support letters—to establish leading and critical roles at distinguished multi-billion-dollar companies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_03_B2203; source_row=40805
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

Petitioner did not dispute the Director's adverse conclusion on appeal, so the issue is deemed waived.

Why this is useful

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

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Petitioner did not dispute the Director's adverse conclusion on appeal, so the issue is deemed waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_03_B2203; source_row=40801
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agrees with the Director that the record supports the Petitioner's participation as a judge of the work of others within her field.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agrees with the Director that the record supports the Petitioner's participation as a judge of the work of others within her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_03_B2203; source_row=40802
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagrees with the Director, faulting the Director for limiting comparison to a single employer rather than the field generally; the Petitioner's earnings (including stock units) substantially exceed salaries for big data analysts at IBM and Apple and O*NET wage data, satisfying the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO disagrees with the Director, faulting the Director for limiting comparison to a single employer rather than the field generally; the Petitioner's earnings (including stock units) substantially exceed salaries for big data analysts at IBM and Apple and O*NET wage data, satisfying the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_03_B2203; source_row=40806
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the second prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to the result.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not reach the second prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to the result.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_03_B5203; source_row=40808
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

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 because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to the result.

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 because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to the result.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_03_B5203; source_row=40809
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's finding that the authorship criterion was satisfied at the plain-language stage.

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 accepted the Director's finding that the authorship criterion was satisfied at the plain-language stage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_01_B2203; source_row=40788
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted that participation as a peer reviewer satisfied the plain language of (iv), reserving substantive concerns for the final merits stage.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO accepted that participation as a peer reviewer satisfied the plain language of (iv), reserving substantive concerns for the final merits stage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_01_B2203; source_row=40786
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering12 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the Director's plain-language finding that this criterion was satisfied.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO did not disturb the Director's plain-language finding that this criterion was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-19_01_B2203; source_row=40787
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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