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 34013410

NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherFounder

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Ten years of full-time experience (criterion B)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that employment letters only documented approximately 9 years and 6 months of experience and that some of those roles were primarily administrative rather than in the occupation of financial manager consultant.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that employment letters only documented approximately 9 years and 6 months of experience and that some of those roles were primarily administrative rather than in the occupation of financial manager consultant.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_10_B5203; source_row=39887
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherFounder

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Official academic record showing degree (criterion A)

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director determined the Petitioner met criterion (A), and AAO did not disturb this finding.

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The Director determined the Petitioner met criterion (A), and AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_10_B5203; source_row=39886
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published materials in major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner provided relevant and credible evidence — including government-issued circulation figures, BBC coverage, and a scholarly article — demonstrating that some submitted articles were published in daily newspapers qualifying as major media in Bangladesh.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner provided relevant and credible evidence — including government-issued circulation figures, BBC coverage, and a scholarly article — demonstrating that some submitted articles were published in daily newspapers qualifying as major media in Bangladesh. AAO also noted that the Petitioner is not required to show every submitted article satisfies the criterion, and that the Director erred in dismissing the 2018 circulation data as outdated when the articles themselves were from 2018.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_01_B2203; source_row=39856
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the totality of evidence — including statements from the awarding entity, information regarding the award's history and purpose, and media coverage — established by a preponderance of the evidence that the Best Singer Award qualifies as a nationally recognized award for excellence in the Petitioner's field in Bangladesh.

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AAO found that the totality of evidence — including statements from the awarding entity, information regarding the award's history and purpose, and media coverage — established by a preponderance of the evidence that the Best Singer Award qualifies as a nationally recognized award for excellence in the Petitioner's field in Bangladesh.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_01_B2203; source_row=39855
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO acknowledged the Director's finding that criterion (vii) was met and did not disturb this finding.

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AAO acknowledged the Director's finding that criterion (vii) was met and did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_01_B2203; source_row=39857
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 did not reach the second prong, as the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong.

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AAO did not reach the second prong, as the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_04_B5203; source_row=39872
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 the job offer and labor certification requirements

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the third prong, as the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not reach the third prong, as the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_04_B5203; source_row=39873
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 explicitly reserved the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly reserved the second Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_12_B5203; source_row=39899
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 the United States

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the third Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met, making further analysis 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 reserved the third Dhanasar prong because the first prong was not met, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_12_B5203; source_row=39900
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

The AAO explicitly reserved opinion on the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making a finding on prong three 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 +
The AAO explicitly reserved opinion on the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first prong, making a finding on prong three unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-13_11_B5203; source_row=39895
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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