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 34313440

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

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

The AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the initial evidence requirement of three qualifying criteria, making a formal final merits analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the initial evidence requirement of three qualifying criteria, making a formal final merits analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_02_B2203; source_row=39835
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reopen Requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The new evidence did not state new facts supported by documentary evidence because the submitted signature image differed materially in size, spacing, and appearance from the signature on the Form I-140 in the record, and the resubmitted images remained inconsistent with that signature.

Why this is useful

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

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The new evidence did not state new facts supported by documentary evidence because the submitted signature image differed materially in size, spacing, and appearance from the signature on the Form I-140 in the record, and the resubmitted images remained inconsistent with that signature.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_08_B5203; source_row=39850
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reconsider Requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Policy Manual's 'valid signature' consistency standard applies to handwritten marks; the Petitioner did not establish the Form I-140 bore a handwritten signature. Because the form was not filed electronically, electronic signature provisions were inapplicable. AAO's prior decision was not based on an incorrect application of law or policy.

Why this is useful

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The Policy Manual's 'valid signature' consistency standard applies to handwritten marks; the Petitioner did not establish the Form I-140 bore a handwritten signature. Because the form was not filed electronically, electronic signature provisions were inapplicable. AAO's prior decision was not based on an incorrect application of law or policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_08_B5203; source_row=39851
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Beneficiary's experience reviewing a research grant proposal and a journal article satisfies the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the Beneficiary's experience reviewing a research grant proposal and a journal article satisfies the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=39822
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that authoring scholarly articles in professional publications satisfies this criterion.

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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AAO agreed that authoring scholarly articles in professional publications satisfies this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=39824
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that judging experience was too limited, publication record lacked demonstrated impact or comparator evidence, citation metrics lacked comparative context, patents were recent and unestablished, recommendation letters were speculative about future impact rather than attesting to current recognition, student awards did not establish field-wide recognition, and IEEE membership was recent and unremarkable.

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AAO found that judging experience was too limited, publication record lacked demonstrated impact or comparator evidence, citation metrics lacked comparative context, patents were recent and unestablished, recommendation letters were speculative about future impact rather than attesting to current recognition, student awards did not establish field-wide recognition, and IEEE membership was recent and unremarkable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=39825
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 explicitly reserved opinion on whether the Petitioner satisfies prong two, as the failure under prong one is dispositive.

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 opinion on whether the Petitioner satisfies prong two, as the failure under prong one is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_04_B5203; source_row=39843
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 job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved opinion on whether the Petitioner satisfies prong three, as the failure under prong one is dispositive.

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 opinion on whether the Petitioner satisfies prong three, as the failure under prong one is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_04_B5203; source_row=39844
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability classification

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner failed to adequately raise the exceptional ability argument on appeal (providing only a passing reference without legal support), AAO treats the issue as not properly before it and finds no error in the prior decision.

Why this is useful

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Because the Petitioner failed to adequately raise the exceptional ability argument on appeal (providing only a passing reference without legal support), AAO treats the issue as not properly before it and finds no error in the prior decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_05_B5203; source_row=39846
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not disturb the Director's favorable prong-2 finding and did not separately analyze it; the prong-1 failure was dispositive.

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 disturb the Director's favorable prong-2 finding and did not separately analyze it; the prong-1 failure was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-12_09_B5203; source_row=39853
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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