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 281290

EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published materials

Why AAO was not persuaded

One claimed article was not independently documented (screenshots appeared to be part of a different article with no website address). The other article's major media status was not established because the Petitioner submitted only self-promotional material and uncontextualized SimilarWeb rankings.…

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One claimed article was not independently documented (screenshots appeared to be part of a different article with no website address). The other article's major media status was not established because the Petitioner submitted only self-promotional material and uncontextualized SimilarWeb rankings. A third article (credited as authored by the Petitioner) never mentions the Petitioner substantively and is about malaria transmission rather than being about him and his work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_01_B2203; source_row=44853
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 found that the evidence focused on the general importance of the automotive repair industry rather than the specific impact of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor. Business projections (up to 24 jobs and ~$4.2M in sales by year five) were unsupported and, even if accurate, not shown to constitute 'substantial positive economic effects' at a national level.…

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AAO found that the evidence focused on the general importance of the automotive repair industry rather than the specific impact of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor. Business projections (up to 24 jobs and ~$4.2M in sales by year five) were unsupported and, even if accurate, not shown to constitute 'substantial positive economic effects' at a national level. Training programs and a claimed diagnostic method also lacked evidence of broader industry implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_04_B5203; source_row=44873
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved analysis of the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved analysis of the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_02_B5203; source_row=44868
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved analysis of the second prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved analysis of the second prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_02_B5203; source_row=44867
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold initial evidence requirements.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold initial evidence requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_01_B2203; source_row=44857
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found Petitioner had engineering experience and a published article but lacked any business-formation experience, his published research had no documented citations or adoption, letters of support expressed only preliminary non-binding interest with no follow-through, and his current H-1B employment precluded outside business activity.

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AAO found Petitioner had engineering experience and a published article but lacked any business-formation experience, his published research had no documented citations or adoption, letters of support expressed only preliminary non-binding interest with no follow-through, and his current H-1B employment precluded outside business activity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_03_B5203; source_row=44870
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO agreed with SCOPS that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but expressly declined to reach national importance, reserving the issue under Bagamasbad.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with SCOPS that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit but expressly declined to reach national importance, reserving the issue under Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_03_B5203; source_row=44869
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO expressly reserved prong three because prong two was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO expressly reserved prong three because prong two was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_03_B5203; source_row=44871
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that SCOPS had previously acknowledged the Petitioner's leading or critical role and that the Petitioner established the organization's distinguished reputation, thereby satisfying this criterion as the third needed for step one.

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AAO found that SCOPS had previously acknowledged the Petitioner's leading or critical role and that the Petitioner established the organization's distinguished reputation, thereby satisfying this criterion as the third needed for step one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_02_B2203; source_row=44863
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO did not separately analyze this criterion because three other criteria were already established, satisfying step one.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not separately analyze this criterion because three other criteria were already established, satisfying step one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-05_02_B2203; source_row=44858
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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