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 33013310

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other900 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director overlooked multiple items of evidence: the global significance of the Petitioner's COVID-19/cardiac research (including an FDA warning issued days after his study's publication), his LVAD research advancing treatment options for patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, his CIED research reducing patient discharge times, independent expert letters attesting to his unique contributions and influence…

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AAO found the Director overlooked multiple items of evidence: the global significance of the Petitioner's COVID-19/cardiac research (including an FDA warning issued days after his study's publication), his LVAD research advancing treatment options for patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, his CIED research reducing patient discharge times, independent expert letters attesting to his unique contributions and influence on clinical guidelines, and a citation rate placing him in the top 1% of clinical medicine authors. These overlooked materials, considered together, established extraordinary ability by a preponderance of the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_01_B2203; source_row=40018
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other900 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner submitted evidence of participation as a judge of others' work in his field, which the Director found sufficient and AAO affirmed.

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The Petitioner submitted evidence of participation as a judge of others' work in his field, which the Director found sufficient and AAO affirmed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_01_B2203; source_row=40015
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the adverse finding on prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

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AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong because the adverse finding on prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_10_B5203; source_row=40071
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the second prong because the adverse finding on prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

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 reserved judgment on the second prong because the adverse finding on prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_10_B5203; source_row=40070
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong three because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one.

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AAO did not reach prong three because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_09_B5203; source_row=40068
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong two because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one. AAO noted in passing that the resubmitted evidence was more relevant to prong two but did not adjudicate it.

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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 two because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one. AAO noted in passing that the resubmitted evidence was more relevant to prong two but did not adjudicate it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_09_B5203; source_row=40067
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability – at least three of six criteria

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this issue because the NIW analysis is dispositive; a ruling on EB-2 exceptional ability classification is unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

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AAO declined to reach this issue because the NIW analysis is dispositive; a ruling on EB-2 exceptional ability classification is unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_07_B5203; source_row=40059
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the second prong because the first prong was dispositive on motion.

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 the second prong because the first prong was dispositive on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_06_B5203; source_row=40057
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 the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the third prong because the first prong was dispositive on motion.

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 did not reach the third prong because the first prong was dispositive on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-16_06_B5203; source_row=40058
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the Petitioner's job and revenue projections lacked adequate supporting detail, the HUBZone eligibility was questionable and its equivalence to economically depressed areas was not established, and the record did not show the proposed endeavor's impact would extend beyond direct customers and employees to the level of national importance.…

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The AAO found that the Petitioner's job and revenue projections lacked adequate supporting detail, the HUBZone eligibility was questionable and its equivalence to economically depressed areas was not established, and the record did not show the proposed endeavor's impact would extend beyond direct customers and employees to the level of national importance. The shortage of engineering professionals does not independently render the endeavor nationally important.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-15_03_B5203; source_row=39997
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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