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 351360

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed SCOPS' analysis. The Petitioner's financial projections lacked basis or explanation for realization, the HUBZone argument was unsubstantiated, and broader physical activity statistics could not be attributed to her specific endeavor. The field's general importance cannot be conflated with the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.

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AAO adopted and affirmed SCOPS' analysis. The Petitioner's financial projections lacked basis or explanation for realization, the HUBZone argument was unsubstantiated, and broader physical activity statistics could not be attributed to her specific endeavor. The field's general importance cannot be conflated with the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_01_B5203; source_row=44743
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display

Why AAO was not persuaded

Scientific conference presentations do not qualify as displays at artistic exhibitions or showcases. The plain language of the criterion explicitly requires exhibitions or showcases that are artistic in nature.

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Scientific conference presentations do not qualify as displays at artistic exhibitions or showcases. The plain language of the criterion explicitly requires exhibitions or showcases that are artistic in nature.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_01_B2203; source_row=44740
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed that the Petitioner's proposed logistics and transport consultancy company in Massachusetts failed to demonstrate that its impact would extend beyond its immediate employees and clients to reach national importance. The new documents submitted on motion did not constitute new facts warranting reopening, and the Petitioner did not show how the prior decision incorrectly applied law or policy.

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

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AAO affirmed that the Petitioner's proposed logistics and transport consultancy company in Massachusetts failed to demonstrate that its impact would extend beyond its immediate employees and clients to reach national importance. The new documents submitted on motion did not constitute new facts warranting reopening, and the Petitioner did not show how the prior decision incorrectly applied law or policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_02_B5203; source_row=44746
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 declined to reach the second prong because the finding on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong because the finding on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_01_B5203; source_row=44744
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 declined to reach the third prong because the finding on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the finding on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_01_B5203; source_row=44745
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 endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved consideration of the second prong, as it had done in the prior appellate decision, because the first prong was not met.

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 reserved consideration of the second prong, as it had done in the prior appellate decision, because the first prong was not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_02_B5203; source_row=44747
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 reserved consideration of the third prong, as it had done in the prior appellate decision, because the first prong was not met.

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 consideration of the third prong, as it had done in the prior appellate decision, because the first prong was not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_02_B5203; source_row=44748
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's business plan projections lacked supporting detail, general industry articles did not address his specific endeavor, the expert letter was conclusory without identifying specific clients or corroborating evidence, and the claimed employment of 12 staff would not constitute substantial economic impact. The Petitioner's assertions about national-level impact were unsubstantiated.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's business plan projections lacked supporting detail, general industry articles did not address his specific endeavor, the expert letter was conclusory without identifying specific clients or corroborating evidence, and the claimed employment of 12 staff would not constitute substantial economic impact. The Petitioner's assertions about national-level impact were unsubstantiated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_03_B5203; source_row=44749
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 and the question of whether the Petitioner's entry would substantially benefit the United States, as these issues were unnecessary given the failure to meet three criteria.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved the final merits determination and the question of whether the Petitioner's entry would substantially benefit the United States, as these issues were unnecessary given the failure to meet three criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_01_B2203; source_row=44742
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 reserved judgment on the leading or critical role criterion because the Petitioner could not meet the minimum requirement of three criteria regardless of its outcome.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reserved judgment on the leading or critical role criterion because the Petitioner could not meet the minimum requirement of three criteria regardless of its outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-09_01_B2203; source_row=44741
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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