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 29012910

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the leading or critical role criterion because the Petitioner could not satisfy the threshold of three criteria, making this issue unnecessary to the outcome.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to reach the leading or critical role criterion because the Petitioner could not satisfy the threshold of three criteria, making this issue unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_02_B2203; source_row=40662
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 explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure on 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 explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure on the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_03_B5203; source_row=40668
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 waive the job offer and labor certification requirements

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure on the first prong is 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 explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure on the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_03_B5203; source_row=40669
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, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

The AAO explicitly reserved determination on the third prong because the first prong 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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The AAO explicitly reserved determination on the third prong because the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_04_B5203; source_row=40672
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

The AAO explicitly reserved determination on the second prong because the first prong was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO explicitly reserved determination on the second prong because the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_04_B5203; source_row=40671
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the second prong, noting the evidence predominantly demonstrates his past experience, work history, and accomplishments which relate to whether he is well-positioned.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the second prong, noting the evidence predominantly demonstrates his past experience, work history, and accomplishments which relate to whether he is well-positioned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_05_B5203; source_row=40674
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence showed impact on individual users and employers but did not demonstrate broader national or global implications in the software quality assurance field.…

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 found that the Petitioner's evidence showed impact on individual users and employers but did not demonstrate broader national or global implications in the software quality assurance field. The recommendation letters did not show solutions were shared beyond individual companies, the teaching proposals lacked metrics demonstrating broader impact on STEM education, and the open source evidence did not explain how the tools were being used industry-wide. Citing STEM priorities does not substitute for showing the specific endeavor's national impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_05_B5203; source_row=40673
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director's analysis erroneous and conflicting, noting the Director disregarded the Petitioner's stated intention to continue as a competitive triathlete. Upon de novo review, AAO concluded the 2022 bronze medal and supporting evidence of the competition's reputation and contemporaneous media coverage satisfied 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 found the Director's analysis erroneous and conflicting, noting the Director disregarded the Petitioner's stated intention to continue as a competitive triathlete. Upon de novo review, AAO concluded the 2022 bronze medal and supporting evidence of the competition's reputation and contemporaneous media coverage satisfied the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B2203; source_row=40650
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to fully conduct a final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the threshold of three evidentiary criteria, but in the aggregate found the record insufficient to establish the required level of acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to fully conduct a final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the threshold of three evidentiary criteria, but in the aggregate found the record insufficient to establish the required level of acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B2203; source_row=40654
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published materials in major trade or professional publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the record supports satisfaction of this 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 with the Director that the record supports satisfaction of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_01_B2203; source_row=40652
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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