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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 39513960

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 did not reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, which was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed to satisfy prong 1, which was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_03_B5203; source_row=39044
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineerPhD60 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

Director found criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding at step one.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

View full reasoning +
Director found criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding at step one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=39030
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineerPhD60 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found at step one that the Petitioner's quality control methodologies, adopted in the AFS Mold and Core Test Handbook and implemented broadly across the U.S. casting industry, satisfied this criterion.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

View full reasoning +
AAO found at step one that the Petitioner's quality control methodologies, adopted in the AFS Mold and Core Test Handbook and implemented broadly across the U.S. casting industry, satisfied this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=39032
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineerPhD60 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

Director found criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding at step one; AAO deferred to Director's conclusion.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

View full reasoning +
Director found criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding at step one; AAO deferred to Director's conclusion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=39029
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineerPhD60 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organization

Why the evidence was persuasive

Director found criterion met for one of the two organizations claimed; AAO did not disturb this finding at step one.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Director found criterion met for one of the two organizations claimed; AAO did not disturb this finding at step one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=39031
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

recognition for achievements and significant contributions (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(F))

What the decision said

AAO reserved decision on this criterion because the Petitioner could not satisfy at least three criteria regardless.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved decision on this criterion because the Petitioner could not satisfy at least three criteria regardless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_11_B5203; source_row=39068
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

license to practice the profession or certification (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(C))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Nevada CDL had expired in 2017 and the Washington driver license was not for a profession or occupation, so the Petitioner did not establish he holds a license to practice a profession.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Nevada CDL had expired in 2017 and the Washington driver license was not for a profession or occupation, so the Petitioner did not establish he holds a license to practice a profession.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_11_B5203; source_row=39065
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E))

Why AAO was not persuaded

Memberships were issued to the business rather than the Petitioner individually, and the record did not show that AMSA or WMC requires a U.S. bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for membership such that they constitute professional associations.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Memberships were issued to the business rather than the Petitioner individually, and the record did not show that AMSA or WMC requires a U.S. bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for membership such that they constitute professional associations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_11_B5203; source_row=39066
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

National importance (clause of first prong)

What the decision said

AAO reserved consideration of the national importance clause because it found the substantial merit element of prong 1 was not met, making it unnecessary to reach national importance.

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 +
AAO reserved consideration of the national importance clause because it found the substantial merit element of prong 1 was not met, making it unnecessary to reach national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_04_B5203; source_row=39047
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the proposed endeavor vaguely described such that its nature could not be discerned, the evidence (including a letter from a prospective partner and general articles) did not show how the Petitioner's specific endeavor would accomplish its stated goals, and the Petitioner's voluntary dissolution of B- LLC while the petition was pending was inconsistent with his stated intent and unexplained.

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 +
AAO found the proposed endeavor vaguely described such that its nature could not be discerned, the evidence (including a letter from a prospective partner and general articles) did not show how the Petitioner's specific endeavor would accomplish its stated goals, and the Petitioner's voluntary dissolution of B- LLC while the petition was pending was inconsistent with his stated intent and unexplained.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-16_04_B5203; source_row=39046
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment