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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 33613370

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 declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_04_B5203; source_row=39935
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

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this prong on the merits because the Director's analysis was based on evidence not in the record, requiring remand.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach this prong on the merits because the Director's analysis was based on evidence not in the record, requiring remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_08_B5203; source_row=39961
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_08_B5203; source_row=39960
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this prong on the merits because the Director's analysis was based on evidence not in the record, requiring remand for a new decision.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach this prong on the merits because the Director's analysis was based on evidence not in the record, requiring remand for a new decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_08_B5203; source_row=39959
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved opinion on the second prong because the first prong was not met, making a finding on 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.

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved opinion on the second prong because the first prong was not met, making a finding on the second prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_11_B5203; source_row=39976
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved opinion on the third prong because the first prong was not met, making a finding on 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.

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved opinion on the third prong because the first prong was not met, making a finding on the third prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_11_B5203; source_row=39977
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Beneficiary failed to meet the threshold evidentiary requirement of three criteria, but nonetheless noted the aggregate record does not establish the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Beneficiary failed to meet the threshold evidentiary requirement of three criteria, but nonetheless noted the aggregate record does not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_01_B2203; source_row=39908
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions

What the decision said

AAO expressly reserved this criterion because the Beneficiary cannot fulfill the minimum evidentiary requirement of three criteria regardless, making the issue unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO expressly reserved this criterion because the Beneficiary cannot fulfill the minimum evidentiary requirement of three criteria regardless, making the issue unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_01_B2203; source_row=39907
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

What the decision said

AAO expressly reserved review of the Director's favorable determination for this criterion because the Beneficiary could not fulfill the minimum evidentiary requirement of three criteria regardless.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO expressly reserved review of the Director's favorable determination for this criterion because the Beneficiary could not fulfill the minimum evidentiary requirement of three criteria regardless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_01_B2203; source_row=39905
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination – sustained national or international acclaim

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidentiary threshold, but observed in dicta that the record did not establish the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidentiary threshold, but observed in dicta that the record did not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-14_03_B2203; source_row=39923
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment