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 32513260

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's decision because it lacked the required analysis — failing to discuss the criterion (v) evidence, making contradictory findings on criterion (vii), and offering no explanation for the ultimate conclusion — thereby depriving the Petitioner of a meaningful opportunity to appeal. AAO remanded for a new decision with proper analysis.

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

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AAO withdrew the Director's decision because it lacked the required analysis — failing to discuss the criterion (v) evidence, making contradictory findings on criterion (vii), and offering no explanation for the ultimate conclusion — thereby depriving the Petitioner of a meaningful opportunity to appeal. AAO remanded for a new decision with proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-20_02_B2203; source_row=40117
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion based on his judging roles for advertising awards.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion based on his judging roles for advertising awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-20_02_B2203; source_row=40112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or trade publications

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion based on articles he published about advertising copywriting.

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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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion based on articles he published about advertising copywriting.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-20_02_B2203; source_row=40114
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original artistic contributions of major significance in the field

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion, though AAO noted the Director failed to include any discussion of this evidence in the final merits analysis.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met this criterion, though AAO noted the Director failed to include any discussion of this evidence in the final merits analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-20_02_B2203; source_row=40113
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found this criterion satisfied; AAO acknowledged the Petitioner performed a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation.

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Both the Director and AAO found this criterion satisfied; AAO acknowledged the Petitioner performed a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-20_01_B2203; source_row=40103
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found this criterion satisfied; AAO noted it at step 2 but did not dispute the step 1 finding.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and AAO found this criterion satisfied; AAO noted it at step 2 but did not dispute the step 1 finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-20_01_B2203; source_row=40099
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner's non-academic articles were written for learned persons in the field rather than laypersons, and that more than one publisher is highly regarded among learned persons in the field, satisfying criterion (vi).

Why this is useful

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AAO found that the Petitioner's non-academic articles were written for learned persons in the field rather than laypersons, and that more than one publisher is highly regarded among learned persons in the field, satisfying criterion (vi).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-20_01_B2203; source_row=40101
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

Although the Petitioner's IT services area has substantial merit, he failed to show national importance because he provided no evidence that his specific endeavor would have broader implications beyond his prospective clients, and his business plan projections lacked supporting documentation or explanation of how they would result in substantial positive economic effects at the national level.

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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Although the Petitioner's IT services area has substantial merit, he failed to show national importance because he provided no evidence that his specific endeavor would have broader implications beyond his prospective clients, and his business plan projections lacked supporting documentation or explanation of how they would result in substantial positive economic effects at the national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-19_03_B5203; source_row=40080
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed the second prong. The recommendation letters showed past client satisfaction but did not explain how his achievements position him to advance his future U.S. endeavor. The record lacked documentation of financial success in the Brazilian company, supporting evidence for claimed investments, and current contracts or interest from U.S. customers or investors.

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 agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed the second prong. The recommendation letters showed past client satisfaction but did not explain how his achievements position him to advance his future U.S. endeavor. The record lacked documentation of financial success in the Brazilian company, supporting evidence for claimed investments, and current contracts or interest from U.S. customers or investors.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-19_03_B5203; source_row=40081
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's título de tecnólogo from Brazil corresponds to only 2-3 years of university study per EDGE, making it insufficient to qualify as a U.S. bachelor's degree equivalent. Without a qualifying degree, the Petitioner cannot satisfy the advanced degree pathway via a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner's título de tecnólogo from Brazil corresponds to only 2-3 years of university study per EDGE, making it insufficient to qualify as a U.S. bachelor's degree equivalent. Without a qualifying degree, the Petitioner cannot satisfy the advanced degree pathway via a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-19_03_B5203; source_row=40078
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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