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 34513460

NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The only employer letter submitted showed over five years but not at least ten years of experience as a driver, covering only July 2012 to November 2017.

Why this is useful

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

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The only employer letter submitted showed over five years but not at least ten years of experience as a driver, covering only July 2012 to November 2017.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-09_02_B5203; source_row=39811
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice the profession or certification for a particular profession or occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

Driver's licenses are not licenses to practice a profession as defined by regulation (i.e., an occupation requiring a baccalaureate degree), and the Petitioner did not show any licensing entity requires a baccalaureate for entry into the driver occupation. The certificates only evidenced coursework completion, not certification for a profession.

Why this is useful

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

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Driver's licenses are not licenses to practice a profession as defined by regulation (i.e., an occupation requiring a baccalaureate degree), and the Petitioner did not show any licensing entity requires a baccalaureate for entry into the driver occupation. The certificates only evidenced coursework completion, not certification for a profession.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-09_02_B5203; source_row=39812
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

academic record

academic record of degree, diploma, certificate or similar award

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's certificates evidenced course completion from training programs, not an academic record from a learning institution. He did not show that academic programs are unavailable in his field or otherwise explain why his certificates should qualify as academic records.

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 certificates evidenced course completion from training programs, not an academic record from a learning institution. He did not show that academic programs are unavailable in his field or otherwise explain why his certificates should qualify as academic records.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-09_02_B5203; source_row=39810
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The award recognized the Petitioner as a good employee with no missed work time, and letters praised his work as a driver and on household projects, but none of this evidenced recognition for specific achievements or significant contributions to the transportation and logistics industries.

Why this is useful

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

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The award recognized the Petitioner as a good employee with no missed work time, and letters praised his work as a driver and on household projects, but none of this evidenced recognition for specific achievements or significant contributions to the transportation and logistics industries.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-09_02_B5203; source_row=39815
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's appellate brief consisted of conclusory statements that did not meaningfully address the Director's specific reasoning and pointed only to the same evidence already on record.

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 appellate brief consisted of conclusory statements that did not meaningfully address the Director's specific reasoning and pointed only to the same evidence already on record.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=39806
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO concluded the Petitioner met this criterion; AAO declined to disturb the Director's finding.

Why this is useful

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Both the Director and AAO concluded the Petitioner met this criterion; AAO declined to disturb the Director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=39805
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Workship article has not been demonstrated to be major media based solely on trimonthly visitor data and rankings. The Note.com article is not about the Petitioner but rather summarizes the author's observations. Other materials were waived on appeal.

Why this is useful

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The Workship article has not been demonstrated to be major media based solely on trimonthly visitor data and rankings. The Note.com article is not about the Petitioner but rather summarizes the author's observations. Other materials were waived on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-08_02_B2203; source_row=39757
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The prior awards were waived on appeal. Regarding the 2008 Innovation award, AAO found that 1,067 items received this award in 2008 (39 in Innovation category), higher-level 'special' awards exist, and the submitted articles do not demonstrate the significance of the Petitioner's specific Innovation award or that it has received nationally or internationally recognized media coverage.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The prior awards were waived on appeal. Regarding the 2008 Innovation award, AAO found that 1,067 items received this award in 2008 (39 in Innovation category), higher-level 'special' awards exist, and the submitted articles do not demonstrate the significance of the Petitioner's specific Innovation award or that it has received nationally or internationally recognized media coverage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-08_02_B2203; source_row=39755
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

For the smaller companies, AAO found the record insufficient to demonstrate distinguished reputations, reserving the question of whether the Petitioner held a leading or critical role. For the large multinational company (with a distinguished reputation), the Petitioner's six-month freelance project facilitated within a six-person studio was insufficient to demonstrate a leading or critical role for the company as a whole.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
For the smaller companies, AAO found the record insufficient to demonstrate distinguished reputations, reserving the question of whether the Petitioner held a leading or critical role. For the large multinational company (with a distinguished reputation), the Petitioner's six-month freelance project facilitated within a six-person studio was insufficient to demonstrate a leading or critical role for the company as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-08_02_B2203; source_row=39761
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

Original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the expert letters lacked specifics and used hyperbolic language without explaining how the Petitioner's signature move influenced the MMA field beyond his own wins. Competing in MMA fights does not equate to original contributions of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the expert letters lacked specifics and used hyperbolic language without explaining how the Petitioner's signature move influenced the MMA field beyond his own wins. Competing in MMA fights does not equate to original contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-08_05_B2203; source_row=39790
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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