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

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner demonstrated leading or critical roles at distinguished Georgian theaters and a leading television station, supported by documentation of performances and letters from theater management.

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AAO found the Petitioner demonstrated leading or critical roles at distinguished Georgian theaters and a leading television station, supported by documentation of performances and letters from theater management.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-04_01_B2203; source_row=40502
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner's direction of several musical performances at named Georgian theaters and festivals satisfies the plain language of the criterion requiring display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's direction of several musical performances at named Georgian theaters and festivals satisfies the plain language of the criterion requiring display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-04_01_B2203; source_row=40501
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 achievement

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Georgian Film Academy is within the Petitioner's field, and that the requirements for honorary membership — requiring a career so distinguished as to have historical significance and universal recognition — are commensurate with outstanding achievement as judged by recognized national experts (members of the board of the Georgian Film Academy).

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AAO found the Georgian Film Academy is within the Petitioner's field, and that the requirements for honorary membership — requiring a career so distinguished as to have historical significance and universal recognition — are commensurate with outstanding achievement as judged by recognized national experts (members of the board of the Georgian Film Academy).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-04_01_B2203; source_row=40498
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the second prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making consideration of the second prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

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 second prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making consideration of the second prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-04_03_B5203; source_row=40508
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making consideration of the third prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

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 the third prong because the Petitioner failed the first prong, making consideration of the third prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-04_03_B5203; source_row=40509
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence established the importance of the electrical engineering field collectively but did not demonstrate broader implications from his specific proposed endeavor of performing EMC/EMI testing and analysis, HIRF testing, and developing lightning protection solutions.…

Why this is useful

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AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence established the importance of the electrical engineering field collectively but did not demonstrate broader implications from his specific proposed endeavor of performing EMC/EMI testing and analysis, HIRF testing, and developing lightning protection solutions. Expert letters focused on the Petitioner's background and field importance rather than broader implications of his specific work. The record also did not establish significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects attributable to his specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-04_02_B5203; source_row=40504
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the cited associations do not qualify as 'professional associations' under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2) because the record does not establish that membership in any of them requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.

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AAO found the cited associations do not qualify as 'professional associations' under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2) because the record does not establish that membership in any of them requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-03_03_B5203; source_row=40486
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

exceptional salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO could not access the wage comparison website, and found the submitted snapshot did not establish that the Petitioner's salary was comparable to the martial arts teacher wage data referenced, nor that it was for the same geographical area or level of expertise.

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AAO could not access the wage comparison website, and found the submitted snapshot did not establish that the Petitioner's salary was comparable to the martial arts teacher wage data referenced, nor that it was for the same geographical area or level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-03_03_B5203; source_row=40485
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

Leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The supervisor's support letter only described the Petitioner as a capable and diligent employee without showing she led or played an especially important part in the lab. Email exchanges with colleagues indicated her authorship of a research protocol was not considered leading or critical, and the relevant paper was drafted entirely by someone else.…

Why this is useful

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

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The supervisor's support letter only described the Petitioner as a capable and diligent employee without showing she led or played an especially important part in the lab. Email exchanges with colleagues indicated her authorship of a research protocol was not considered leading or critical, and the relevant paper was drafted entirely by someone else. The record did not document the significance of the disputed paper to the organization's overall activities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-03_02_B2203; source_row=40479
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

Original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's patent and a supervisor's support letter were insufficient to show major significance; no examples of actual utilization were provided. On appeal, the Petitioner referenced one company's use of the patent but submitted only a website homepage that does not mention the patented technology. The citation-record argument was not raised on appeal and deemed waived.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner's patent and a supervisor's support letter were insufficient to show major significance; no examples of actual utilization were provided. On appeal, the Petitioner referenced one company's use of the patent but submitted only a website homepage that does not mention the patented technology. The citation-record argument was not raised on appeal and deemed waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-03_02_B2203; source_row=40477
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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