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 38813890

NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability qualification

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach this issue under Bagamasbad because the Petitioner failed to establish the national importance of the proposed endeavor, making further analysis unnecessary.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach this issue under Bagamasbad because the Petitioner failed to establish the national importance of the proposed endeavor, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-18_06_B5203; source_row=39185
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organization

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed this criterion was met.

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Both the Director and AAO agreed this criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-18_02_B2203; source_row=39165
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO on reconsideration found the key discrepancy in the 2021 tax documents was caused by a translation error — the payment appears consistently in all Chinese-language originals but was missing from one English translation. With that error corrected and corroborating tax documents in the record, the Petitioner met the preponderance standard for this criterion.

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AAO on reconsideration found the key discrepancy in the 2021 tax documents was caused by a translation error — the payment appears consistently in all Chinese-language originals but was missing from one English translation. With that error corrected and corroborating tax documents in the record, the Petitioner met the preponderance standard for this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-18_02_B2203; source_row=39166
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the individual

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO granted this criterion on appeal, finding the record satisfied 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(iii).

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AAO granted this criterion on appeal, finding the record satisfied 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(iii).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-18_02_B2203; source_row=39164
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the record fails to show national importance. Petitioner did not develop BASC standards, the support letters did not address his specific endeavor's broader impact, and the submitted articles addressed the importance of issues generally rather than his specific endeavor.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the record fails to show national importance. Petitioner did not develop BASC standards, the support letters did not address his specific endeavor's broader impact, and the submitted articles addressed the importance of issues generally rather than his specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_05_B5203; source_row=39112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the petitioner did not show his work would extend beyond individual clients to impact the field more broadly, nor demonstrated significant potential to employ U.S. workers or have substantial positive economic effects.

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AAO agreed the endeavor has substantial merit but found the petitioner did not show his work would extend beyond individual clients to impact the field more broadly, nor demonstrated significant potential to employ U.S. workers or have substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_07_B5203; source_row=39118
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. Arguments about the veterinary and equine industries' overall importance did not demonstrate how her specific clinic would have broader national impact beyond its immediate clientele. Employment of one to five workers and modest projected profits did not demonstrate significant economic effects at the national level.

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AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. Arguments about the veterinary and equine industries' overall importance did not demonstrate how her specific clinic would have broader national impact beyond its immediate clientele. Employment of one to five workers and modest projected profits did not demonstrate significant economic effects at the national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_10_B5203; source_row=39132
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concurred with the Director that the Petitioner failed to submit a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent degree, and noted that experience, training, or education cannot be substituted for that requirement. The Petitioner did not contest this finding.

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AAO concurred with the Director that the Petitioner failed to submit a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent degree, and noted that experience, training, or education cannot be substituted for that requirement. The Petitioner did not contest this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_14_B5203; source_row=39148
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the two-year licentiate degree is not equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per EDGE, and the unsourced '3-for-1 Rule' in the evaluation has no regulatory basis. Without establishing a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent, the Petitioner cannot qualify as an advanced degree professional.

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AAO found the two-year licentiate degree is not equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per EDGE, and the unsourced '3-for-1 Rule' in the evaluation has no regulatory basis. Without establishing a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent, the Petitioner cannot qualify as an advanced degree professional.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_03_B5203; source_row=39107
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that education and skills alone are insufficient and that the letters spoke to job duties rather than a record of success in similar efforts, speaking engagements in unrelated fields (lupus, neurology) did not show connection to the radiology endeavor, and financial interest evidence was not persuasive as to investment support for the proposed endeavor.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that education and skills alone are insufficient and that the letters spoke to job duties rather than a record of success in similar efforts, speaking engagements in unrelated fields (lupus, neurology) did not show connection to the radiology endeavor, and financial interest evidence was not persuasive as to investment support for the proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-17_06_B5203; source_row=39116
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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