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 31013110

NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that teaching/training activities would not impact the geography or GIS field more broadly beyond the Petitioner's prospective employer. For his research, the Petitioner failed to present a specific proposed endeavor, offering only broad generalizations about GIS integration without identifying specific projects, types of research, or concrete goals.

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 agreed that teaching/training activities would not impact the geography or GIS field more broadly beyond the Petitioner's prospective employer. For his research, the Petitioner failed to present a specific proposed endeavor, offering only broad generalizations about GIS integration without identifying specific projects, types of research, or concrete goals.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_08_B5203; source_row=40366
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific or scholarly contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the ultimate finding that criterion (v) was not clearly satisfied but criticized the Director for failing to discuss the contents of the letters of recommendation and not adequately explaining the deficiency. The matter was remanded for proper analysis.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the ultimate finding that criterion (v) was not clearly satisfied but criticized the Director for failing to discuss the contents of the letters of recommendation and not adequately explaining the deficiency. The matter was remanded for proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_04_B2203; source_row=40341
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in major trade publications

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO noted the Director's finding that criterion (vi) was satisfied; this finding was not contested on appeal.

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 noted the Director's finding that criterion (vi) was satisfied; this finding was not contested on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_04_B2203; source_row=40342
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO noted the Director's finding that criterion (iv) was satisfied; this finding was not contested on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO noted the Director's finding that criterion (iv) was satisfied; this finding was not contested on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_04_B2203; source_row=40340
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prize or award

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director erred by failing to address criterion (i) entirely, instead misapplying the evidence to criterion (v). AAO remanded for proper evaluation 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 found the Director erred by failing to address criterion (i) entirely, instead misapplying the evidence to criterion (v). AAO remanded for proper evaluation of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_04_B2203; source_row=40339
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

performed in a leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

What the decision said

AAO found that the Director failed to address the Petitioner's RFE response for this criterion, constituting clear error requiring remand.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the Director failed to address the Petitioner's RFE response for this criterion, constituting clear error requiring remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_01_B2203; source_row=40310
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO found that the Director failed to address the Petitioner's RFE response for this criterion and did not acknowledge the claims or evidence regarding original contributions and their significance.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the Director failed to address the Petitioner's RFE response for this criterion and did not acknowledge the claims or evidence regarding original contributions and their significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_01_B2203; source_row=40308
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the person in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO confirmed that the record supports the Director's determination that the Petitioner meets 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 confirmed that the record supports the Director's determination that the Petitioner meets this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_01_B2203; source_row=40307
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO found that the Director failed to address the Petitioner's RFE response for this criterion and did not acknowledge the claims the Petitioner articulated with respect to the awards criterion, constituting clear error requiring remand.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the Director failed to address the Petitioner's RFE response for this criterion and did not acknowledge the claims the Petitioner articulated with respect to the awards criterion, constituting clear error requiring remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_01_B2203; source_row=40305
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the conferences did not specifically focus on entering new business markets, but noted the criterion permits judging in 'an allied field.' AAO found that judging in international law related to the Petitioner's field of entering new business markets, and therefore the criterion was met.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the conferences did not specifically focus on entering new business markets, but noted the criterion permits judging in 'an allied field.' AAO found that judging in international law related to the Petitioner's field of entering new business markets, and therefore the criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-27_03_B2203; source_row=40328
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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