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 38213830

NIWexceptional ability otherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

official academic record (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A))

What the decision said

AAO did not resolve this criterion but noted the Director contradicted the RFE by reversing her prior finding that this criterion was met, seemingly overlooking the Level 3 certificate.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not resolve this criterion but noted the Director contradicted the RFE by reversing her prior finding that this criterion was met, seemingly overlooking the Level 3 certificate.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_02_B5203; source_row=39247
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 requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the third prong, declining to reach it because 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 reserved judgment on the third prong, declining to reach it because the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_04_B5203; source_row=39260
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 reserved judgment on the second prong, declining to reach it because the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved judgment on the second prong, declining to reach it because the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_04_B5203; source_row=39259
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

The AAO declined to reach prong 3, reserving the issue because prong 1 was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO declined to reach prong 3, reserving the issue because prong 1 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_05_B5203; source_row=39263
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

The AAO declined to reach prong 2, reserving the issue because prong 1 was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO declined to reach prong 2, reserving the issue because prong 1 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_05_B5203; source_row=39262
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 explicitly declined to reach prong two because the failure to meet prong one is dispositive of the appeal.

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 declined to reach prong two because the failure to meet prong one is dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_03_B5203; source_row=39255
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 explicitly declined to reach prong three because the failure to meet prong one is dispositive of the appeal.

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 declined to reach prong three because the failure to meet prong one is dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_03_B5203; source_row=39256
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 found no error in the Director's ultimate determination despite criticizing one non-dispositive ground. The business plan projected modest net profits, a net worth declining over three years, and only six employees, insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects. Expert and colleague letters did not show impact beyond the Petitioner's clients or field.…

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 found no error in the Director's ultimate determination despite criticizing one non-dispositive ground. The business plan projected modest net profits, a net worth declining over three years, and only six employees, insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects. Expert and colleague letters did not show impact beyond the Petitioner's clients or field. General industry articles about the importance of cybersecurity and privacy did not address the Petitioner's specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-22_03_B5203; source_row=39254
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

Industry-level reports and articles established the importance of the trucking industry generally but did not address the prospective impact of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The expert letter discussed supply chain issues but failed to articulate how the Petitioner's company's work would extend beyond individual clients to impact the industry broadly.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Industry-level reports and articles established the importance of the trucking industry generally but did not address the prospective impact of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The expert letter discussed supply chain issues but failed to articulate how the Petitioner's company's work would extend beyond individual clients to impact the industry broadly. The business plan's employment and financial projections were unsubstantiated and did not demonstrate national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-19_06_B5203; source_row=39231
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or other remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO declined to consider new evidence submitted for the first time on appeal. As of the filing date, the Petitioner's submitted evidence showed a salary of $76,667 — significantly below the average for robotics engineers — and a subsequent raise did not demonstrate eligibility as of the filing date.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO declined to consider new evidence submitted for the first time on appeal. As of the filing date, the Petitioner's submitted evidence showed a salary of $76,667 — significantly below the average for robotics engineers — and a subsequent raise did not demonstrate eligibility as of the filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-19_02_B5203; source_row=39213
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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