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 29412950

NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters show recognition by peers and contributions to the Petitioner's direct employer but do not speak to broader contributions to the aviation or aviation maintenance industry. Awards and medals noted in letters relate to leadership and employer service, not industry-wide significance.

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AAO found the letters show recognition by peers and contributions to the Petitioner's direct employer but do not speak to broader contributions to the aviation or aviation maintenance industry. Awards and medals noted in letters relate to leadership and employer service, not industry-wide significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_07_B5203; source_row=40624
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 the Petitioner failed to show how her specific endeavor—opening an urban planning department and working on 15-minute city projects—would have broader implications beyond her employer and specific clients, and did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial positive economic effects.

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 the Petitioner failed to show how her specific endeavor—opening an urban planning department and working on 15-minute city projects—would have broader implications beyond her employer and specific clients, and did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or provide substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_04_B5203; source_row=40606
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounder

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

Citing Matter of Echeverria, AAO held the conjunctive 'and' requires both achievements and significant contributions; the record lacks evidence that the Petitioner's businesses made a significant contribution to the industry.

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Citing Matter of Echeverria, AAO held the conjunctive 'and' requires both achievements and significant contributions; the record lacks evidence that the Petitioner's businesses made a significant contribution to the industry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_06_B5203; source_row=40615
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounder

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the new 2024 accountant letter contains dates inconsistent with the prior 2022 letter and references companies not otherwise documented, failing to resolve the inconsistencies; under Matter of Ho, the Petitioner must resolve such inconsistencies with independent, objective evidence.

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AAO found the new 2024 accountant letter contains dates inconsistent with the prior 2022 letter and references companies not otherwise documented, failing to resolve the inconsistencies; under Matter of Ho, the Petitioner must resolve such inconsistencies with independent, objective evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_06_B5203; source_row=40612
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementFounder

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice the profession or certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The license was expired and issued to a business rather than the Petitioner; eligibility must be established at filing and continue through adjudication, and the membership documents do not establish a license to practice a profession.

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The license was expired and issued to a business rather than the Petitioner; eligibility must be established at filing and continue through adjudication, and the membership documents do not establish a license to practice a profession.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_06_B5203; source_row=40613
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific or scholarly contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO declined to address this criterion because the Petitioner already satisfied three criteria through (i), (iv), and (vi), making further analysis of additional criteria unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to address this criterion because the Petitioner already satisfied three criteria through (i), (iv), and (vi), making further analysis of additional criteria unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_01_B2203; source_row=40587
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

nationally or internationally recognized prize or award

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the record contained the award certificate, a photograph of the medal, a letter from the National Dean confirming the award, and a resolution from the National Council of the engineering body, together showing that the Petitioner received a nationally recognized prize for outstanding professional work in engineering.

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AAO found that the record contained the award certificate, a photograph of the medal, a letter from the National Dean confirming the award, and a resolution from the National Council of the engineering body, together showing that the Petitioner received a nationally recognized prize for outstanding professional work in engineering.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_01_B2203; source_row=40585
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO did not revisit criterion (i) on appeal; the Director's finding that it was met was undisputed and AAO's analysis focused solely on criterion (ii).

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AAO did not revisit criterion (i) on appeal; the Director's finding that it was met was undisputed and AAO's analysis focused solely on criterion (ii).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_03_B2203; source_row=40602
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 explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not establish the initial evidence threshold.

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AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not establish the initial evidence threshold.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_03_B2203; source_row=40605
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 concluded the originally proposed Brazilian fried chicken restaurant franchise lacked broader national or global implications, and the Petitioner's pivot to a consulting/training endeavor in the RFE response was a material change presenting new facts barred under Katigbak and Izummi.

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 concluded the originally proposed Brazilian fried chicken restaurant franchise lacked broader national or global implications, and the Petitioner's pivot to a consulting/training endeavor in the RFE response was a material change presenting new facts barred under Katigbak and Izummi.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-10_02_B5203; source_row=40599
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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