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 36013610

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 determination on the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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 determination on the third prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_03_B5203; source_row=39546
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 determination on the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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 determination on the second prong because the failure to meet the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_03_B5203; source_row=39545
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 waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserves prong 3 as unnecessary to the result given the prong-1 failure.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserves prong 3 as unnecessary to the result given the prong-1 failure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_01_B5203; source_row=39539
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserves prong 2 because the prong-1 determination is dispositive, while acknowledging an inconsistency in the Director's treatment.

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 reserves prong 2 because the prong-1 determination is dispositive, while acknowledging an inconsistency in the Director's treatment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_01_B5203; source_row=39538
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

recognition for achievements and significant contributions (k)(3)(ii)(F)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters and certificates documented the Petitioner's personal achievements and impact on specific employers/clients but did not establish significant contributions to the swimming industry as a whole. The Master of Sports certificate and the gratitude letter for implementing a methodology likewise did not show industry-wide significance.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the letters and certificates documented the Petitioner's personal achievements and impact on specific employers/clients but did not establish significant contributions to the swimming industry as a whole. The Master of Sports certificate and the gratitude letter for implementing a methodology likewise did not show industry-wide significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_04_B5203; source_row=39553
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

license or certification (k)(3)(ii)(C)

What the decision said

Petitioner did not address this issue on appeal, so it is waived.

Why this is useful

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Petitioner did not address this issue on appeal, so it is waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_04_B5203; source_row=39550
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

official academic record (k)(3)(ii)(A)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's certificate in physical education and sports relates to swimming/swim instruction and satisfies this criterion.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's certificate in physical education and sports relates to swimming/swim instruction and satisfies this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_04_B5203; source_row=39548
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations (k)(3)(ii)(E)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the record did not establish that the occupation, or membership in the relevant association, requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent, so the association does not qualify as a 'professional' association under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded the record did not establish that the occupation, or membership in the relevant association, requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent, so the association does not qualify as a 'professional' association under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_04_B5203; source_row=39552
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

What the decision said

Petitioner did not address the advanced-degree issue on appeal, so AAO treated it as waived.

Why this is useful

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

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Petitioner did not address the advanced-degree issue on appeal, so AAO treated it as waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_04_B5203; source_row=39547
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability qualification

What the decision said

AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary to its decision given the dispositive NIW finding.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reserved this issue as unnecessary to its decision given the dispositive NIW finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-01_10_B5203; source_row=39581
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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