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 40514060

EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The bank statements and pay stubs do not establish the salary range of others in the fields of engineering and management, or among engineering project managers with similar roles, so it cannot be determined whether the Petitioner's salary is high in relation to others in the field.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The bank statements and pay stubs do not establish the salary range of others in the fields of engineering and management, or among engineering project managers with similar roles, so it cannot be determined whether the Petitioner's salary is high in relation to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_01_B2203; source_row=38825
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 maintained that the petitioner did not show the endeavor would broadly impact the oil and gas industry, employ U.S. workers, or have substantial positive economic effects, and the new declaration spoke to substantial merit rather than 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 maintained that the petitioner did not show the endeavor would broadly impact the oil and gas industry, employ U.S. workers, or have substantial positive economic effects, and the new declaration spoke to substantial merit rather than national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_08_B5203; source_row=38867
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 found that even accepting the Petitioner's framing that she did not claim HUBZone program eligibility, merely locating a business in underutilized zones would not establish national importance. The record failed to demonstrate broader implications beyond limited local benefits to clients and employees.

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 that even accepting the Petitioner's framing that she did not claim HUBZone program eligibility, merely locating a business in underutilized zones would not establish national importance. The record failed to demonstrate broader implications beyond limited local benefits to clients and employees.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_04_B5203; source_row=38858
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's programs totaled less than four years and did not constitute a foreign equivalent of a baccalaureate. The credential evaluator's reliance on a three-years-experience-per-year-of-education rule was unsupported because that rule (8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(D)(5)) applies to H-1B classification, not EB-2 immigrant classification.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner's programs totaled less than four years and did not constitute a foreign equivalent of a baccalaureate. The credential evaluator's reliance on a three-years-experience-per-year-of-education rule was unsupported because that rule (8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(D)(5)) applies to H-1B classification, not EB-2 immigrant classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_12_B5203; source_row=38883
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability qualification

What the decision said

AAO reserved this issue because the Petitioner's failure to satisfy Dhanasar prong one is dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved this issue because the Petitioner's failure to satisfy Dhanasar prong one is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_12_B5203; source_row=38884
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved opinion on prong three because prong one 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 explicitly reserved opinion on prong three because prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_03_B5203; source_row=38849
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved opinion on prong two because prong one was dispositive.

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 reserved opinion on prong two because prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_03_B5203; source_row=38848
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Proposed endeavor related to advanced degree

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the director erred by focusing on the CEO title rather than the actual work to be performed; the clinical radiological treatments the clinic would provide are directly related to the petitioner's medical training.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the director erred by focusing on the CEO title rather than the actual work to be performed; the clinical radiological treatments the clinic would provide are directly related to the petitioner's medical training.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_14_B5203; source_row=38891
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 submitted articles and reports provided only general background on the pharmaceutical industry and did not relate specifically to the Petitioner's proposed endeavor. Claimed economic benefits from a new production facility were tied to Brazil, not the United States.…

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 submitted articles and reports provided only general background on the pharmaceutical industry and did not relate specifically to the Petitioner's proposed endeavor. Claimed economic benefits from a new production facility were tied to Brazil, not the United States. The Petitioner failed to explain how working as a single pharmaceutical industrial production manager for one employer would extend beyond that employer to impact the field at a nationally important level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_11_B5203; source_row=38880
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong three as the first-prong determination 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 declined to reach prong three as the first-prong determination was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-10_08_B5203; source_row=38869
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment