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 361370

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's consulting activities would not have implications beyond the individual companies and clients he works with, and his sole-employee business plan with modest revenue projections failed to show substantial positive economic effects at a national scale. AAO also noted that personal qualifications and experience are misplaced under the first prong.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's consulting activities would not have implications beyond the individual companies and clients he works with, and his sole-employee business plan with modest revenue projections failed to show substantial positive economic effects at a national scale. AAO also noted that personal qualifications and experience are misplaced under the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_04_B5203; source_row=44735
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with SCOPS that the record did not adequately show the organization is a professional association as contemplated by regulation, because the organization's membership is not exclusively limited to degree-holding professionals but is open to anyone interested or engaged in robotics, including those who pay an annual fee.

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AAO agreed with SCOPS that the record did not adequately show the organization is a professional association as contemplated by regulation, because the organization's membership is not exclusively limited to degree-holding professionals but is open to anyone interested or engaged in robotics, including those who pay an annual fee.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_02_B5203; source_row=44727
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer14 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final Merits Determination — Sustained National or International Acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's judging activity was largely recent and lacked context showing it placed him at the top of the field; his publication and citation record was not demonstrated to be consistent with a career of acclaimed work; his awards, patents, and funding lacked sufficient context to establish national or international acclaim; and recommendation letters were general and failed to show widespread recogniti…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's judging activity was largely recent and lacked context showing it placed him at the top of the field; his publication and citation record was not demonstrated to be consistent with a career of acclaimed work; his awards, patents, and funding lacked sufficient context to establish national or international acclaim; and recommendation letters were general and failed to show widespread recognition or comparative standing in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_01_B2203; source_row=44716
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in qualifying associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The China Law Society's charter shows membership requires only 'certain research capabilities' and submission of an application aligned with the correct political direction, which does not amount to outstanding achievements. Additionally, neither the appellate brief nor prior correspondence addressed whether the society uses national or international experts to judge prospective members' achievements.

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The China Law Society's charter shows membership requires only 'certain research capabilities' and submission of an application aligned with the correct political direction, which does not amount to outstanding achievements. Additionally, neither the appellate brief nor prior correspondence addressed whether the society uses national or international experts to judge prospective members' achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_02_B2203; source_row=44720
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

academic record

Degree or diploma relating to area of exceptional ability

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both SCOPS and AAO found that the Petitioner met the criterion for an official academic record showing a degree relating to the area of exceptional ability.

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Both SCOPS and AAO found that the Petitioner met the criterion for an official academic record showing a degree relating to the area of exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_02_B5203; source_row=44725
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

recognition

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the awards recognized competitive performance rather than significant contributions to the robotics industry or field broadly, that the recommendation letters attested to competence and skills but not to achievements and significant contributions to the industry, and that the contributions described were to specific employers rather than the field broadly.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that the awards recognized competitive performance rather than significant contributions to the robotics industry or field broadly, that the recommendation letters attested to competence and skills but not to achievements and significant contributions to the industry, and that the contributions described were to specific employers rather than the field broadly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_02_B5203; source_row=44728
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

Ten years of full-time experience

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both SCOPS and AAO found that the Petitioner met the criterion for ten years of full-time experience in the occupation.

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Both SCOPS and AAO found that the Petitioner met the criterion for ten years of full-time experience in the occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_02_B5203; source_row=44726
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the minimum threshold of three criteria. However, AAO noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not establish the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to reach a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the minimum threshold of three criteria. However, AAO noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_02_B2203; source_row=44724
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

SCOPS found and AAO did not disturb the finding that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion; however, meeting only one criterion is insufficient to satisfy the three-criterion threshold.

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SCOPS found and AAO did not disturb the finding that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion; however, meeting only one criterion is insufficient to satisfy the three-criterion threshold.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_02_B2203; source_row=44723
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 to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner's failure to satisfy prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner's failure to satisfy prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-06-06_03_B5203; source_row=44734
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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