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 35513560

NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO declined to make a finding but observed the Director misidentified the endeavor and failed to consider the actual evidence (expert letter, business plan) addressing the trucking endeavor's national importance.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to make a finding but observed the Director misidentified the endeavor and failed to consider the actual evidence (expert letter, business plan) addressing the trucking endeavor's national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_02_B5203; source_row=39631
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 criticized the Director for not explaining what evidence was considered in reaching the third-prong determination.

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 criticized the Director for not explaining what evidence was considered in reaching the third-prong determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_02_B5203; source_row=39633
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 did not reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_05_B5203; source_row=39645
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 did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not reach prong 2 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_05_B5203; source_row=39644
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on prong three because the failure on prong one was dispositive.

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 judgment on prong three because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_09_B5203; source_row=39655
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 reserved judgment on prong two because the failure on prong one was dispositive.

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 judgment on prong two because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_09_B5203; source_row=39654
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 opinion on the second prong because the first prong was not met and reaching the second prong was 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 explicitly reserved opinion on the second prong because the first prong was not met and reaching the second prong was unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_03_B5203; source_row=39635
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 explicitly reserved opinion on the third prong because the first prong was not met and reaching the third prong was 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 explicitly reserved opinion on the third prong because the first prong was not met and reaching the third prong was unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_03_B5203; source_row=39636
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

recognition

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field by peers, government entities, or professional or business organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

Both reference letters describe the Petitioner as a valued employee who made positive contributions to his employer and customers, but do not show recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader industry or field of computer systems.

Why this is useful

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

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Both reference letters describe the Petitioner as a valued employee who made positive contributions to his employer and customers, but do not show recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the broader industry or field of computer systems.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_04_B5203; source_row=39642
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

academic record

Official academic record showing degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award

Why AAO was not persuaded

Certificates completed after the April 28, 2021 filing date could not be considered. The pre-filing certificates—four days of instruction in 2008 and 24 hours in 2020—do not rise to the level of a diploma or degree, and there is no evidence they are official academic records from an accredited institution.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Certificates completed after the April 28, 2021 filing date could not be considered. The pre-filing certificates—four days of instruction in 2008 and 24 hours in 2020—do not rise to the level of a diploma or degree, and there is no evidence they are official academic records from an accredited institution.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-05_04_B5203; source_row=39637
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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