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 36913700

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agrees that Petitioner held leading roles with his current employer, an organization with a distinguished reputation.

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AAO agrees that Petitioner held leading roles with his current employer, an organization with a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-30_01_B2203; source_row=39447
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

awards for excellence

What the decision said

AAO does not separately reach this criterion at step 1, electing to evaluate the awards evidence as part of the final merits determination since three criteria were already met.

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AAO does not separately reach this criterion at step 1, electing to evaluate the awards evidence as part of the final merits determination since three criteria were already met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-30_01_B2203; source_row=39442
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agrees, noting authorship of scholarly works in professional publications.

Why this is useful

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AAO agrees, noting authorship of scholarly works in professional publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-30_01_B2203; source_row=39446
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration

What the decision said

AAO does not separately decide this criterion at step 1; it weighs the remuneration evidence in the final merits determination.

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AAO does not separately decide this criterion at step 1; it weighs the remuneration evidence in the final merits determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-30_01_B2203; source_row=39448
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurs with the Director that service on Ph.D. dissertation panels in an allied field of specialization satisfies the judging criterion.

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AAO concurs with the Director that service on Ph.D. dissertation panels in an allied field of specialization satisfies the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-30_01_B2203; source_row=39444
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 had substantial merit but found she failed to establish national importance. The submitted articles addressed cloud computing and cybersecurity generally but did not discuss the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor.…

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner had substantial merit but found she failed to establish national importance. The submitted articles addressed cloud computing and cybersecurity generally but did not discuss the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. Letters of recommendation praised her qualifications but did not demonstrate that her work would extend beyond individual employers to have broader national or global implications for her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-29_01_B5203; source_row=39411
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record lacked adequate corroborating evidence that the Petitioner's marketing services business would have broader implications in his field or substantial positive economic effects at a national level.…

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AAO found the record lacked adequate corroborating evidence that the Petitioner's marketing services business would have broader implications in his field or substantial positive economic effects at a national level. The economic projections (RIMS II, business plan) were insufficiently detailed and unsupported, and the Petitioner conflated the importance of the marketing industry generally with the national importance of his specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-29_06_B5203; source_row=39420
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded that geographic reach does not equate to national importance; the consulting services are individualized to specific clients and the Petitioner failed to show how innovations would be disseminated more broadly or that indirect economic effects would substantially impact the regional or national economy.

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AAO concluded that geographic reach does not equate to national importance; the consulting services are individualized to specific clients and the Petitioner failed to show how innovations would be disseminated more broadly or that indirect economic effects would substantially impact the regional or national economy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-29_13_B5203; source_row=39435
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that LARAS membership requirements are based on volume of recordings and distributions, not outstanding achievements, and the Petitioner's argument that meeting these requirements is itself a feat was unsubstantiated. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to show that LARAS uses nationally or internationally recognized experts to judge outstanding achievements of prospective members.

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AAO agreed that LARAS membership requirements are based on volume of recordings and distributions, not outstanding achievements, and the Petitioner's argument that meeting these requirements is itself a feat was unsubstantiated. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to show that LARAS uses nationally or internationally recognized experts to judge outstanding achievements of prospective members.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-29_01_B2203; source_row=39406
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 concluded the business plan's financial projections were unsupported and contained discrepancies (e.g., projecting $60,000 total for five project managers earning $60,000 each), and that the cultural ripple effects of the body-positive movement did not extend beyond a narrow area to constitute national importance.

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AAO concluded the business plan's financial projections were unsupported and contained discrepancies (e.g., projecting $60,000 total for five project managers earning $60,000 each), and that the cultural ripple effects of the body-positive movement did not extend beyond a narrow area to constitute national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-29_07_B5203; source_row=39423
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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