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 32013210

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

EconomicsPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director's ultimate conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's work as an associate professor and short-term UN research fellow did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim, her publication/citation evidence lacked adequate verification and context, and her judging and administrative activities did not rise to the extraordinary ability level.

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AAO agreed with the Director's ultimate conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's work as an associate professor and short-term UN research fellow did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim, her publication/citation evidence lacked adequate verification and context, and her judging and administrative activities did not rise to the extraordinary ability level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_02_B2203; source_row=40170
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

EconomicsPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's peer review activity and service as chairperson on thesis examination panels meets the plain language of the criterion, though it did not reflect extraordinary ability-level acclaim.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's peer review activity and service as chairperson on thesis examination panels meets the plain language of the criterion, though it did not reflect extraordinary ability-level acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_02_B2203; source_row=40167
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 submitted evidence addressed the tourism industry and small businesses generally, not the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The expert opinions did not indicate national or global implications for the travel industry. The business plan's projected employment of nine people fell short of demonstrating substantial economic benefit to the United States.

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 submitted evidence addressed the tourism industry and small businesses generally, not the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The expert opinions did not indicate national or global implications for the travel industry. The business plan's projected employment of nine people fell short of demonstrating substantial economic benefit to the United States.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=40172
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 did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, making further analysis unnecessary.

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 did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=40173
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

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, making further analysis unnecessary.

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AAO did not reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=40174
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

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 as unnecessary to reach given that the second prong was dispositive.

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AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to reach given that the second prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_06_B5203; source_row=40188
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 explicitly declined to reach the second prong because the dispositive finding on the first prong rendered it unnecessary.

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 declined to reach the second prong because the dispositive finding on the first prong rendered it unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_09_B5203; source_row=40197
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 explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the dispositive finding on the first prong rendered it unnecessary.

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 declined to reach the third prong because the dispositive finding on the first prong rendered it unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_09_B5203; source_row=40198
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

EB-2 Exceptional Ability Final Merits Determination

What the decision said

AAO noted the Director's analysis appeared inadequate but explicitly reserved this issue due to other dispositive factors resolving the appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO noted the Director's analysis appeared inadequate but explicitly reserved this issue due to other dispositive factors resolving the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_07_B5203; source_row=40189
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not address the third prong, as 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.

View full reasoning +
AAO did not address the third prong, as the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-22_07_B5203; source_row=40192
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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