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 41614170

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that an online article describing the Petitioner as chief judge of a duathlon and a letter from the president of the national federation confirming his judging role in three international triathlon competitions (2017, 2018, 2019) sufficed to satisfy criterion (iv).

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AAO found that an online article describing the Petitioner as chief judge of a duathlon and a letter from the president of the national federation confirming his judging role in three international triathlon competitions (2017, 2018, 2019) sufficed to satisfy criterion (iv).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-05_02_B2203; source_row=38676
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

high salary or remuneration

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not address the Director's adverse finding regarding criterion (vi) on appeal and AAO deemed it waived.

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The Petitioner did not address the Director's adverse finding regarding criterion (vi) on appeal and AAO deemed it waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-05_02_B2203; source_row=38681
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination – sustained national or international acclaim

What the decision said

AAO reserved formal final merits review because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in aggregate that the record does not demonstrate the required acclaim.

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AAO reserved formal final merits review because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in aggregate that the record does not demonstrate the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-05_01_B2203; source_row=38672
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

Leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the certificates from RIAA and BPI, combined with industry letters describing the company's accomplishments, sufficiently established that the Petitioner's management company has a distinguished reputation, and that the Petitioner as founder and CEO performed a leading or critical role for it.

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AAO found that the certificates from RIAA and BPI, combined with industry letters describing the company's accomplishments, sufficiently established that the Petitioner's management company has a distinguished reputation, and that the Petitioner as founder and CEO performed a leading or critical role for it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-05_01_B2203; source_row=38669
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

Published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner satisfied this criterion; it was not contested.

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AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner satisfied this criterion; it was not contested.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-05_01_B2203; source_row=38668
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner's evidence lacked probative value to demonstrate national importance. Generalized statements and background articles did not specifically address the Petitioner's endeavor, and no evidence from government entities or detailed expert letters documented specific U.S. government interest in the Petitioner's particular proposal.

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AAO affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner's evidence lacked probative value to demonstrate national importance. Generalized statements and background articles did not specifically address the Petitioner's endeavor, and no evidence from government entities or detailed expert letters documented specific U.S. government interest in the Petitioner's particular proposal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-04_01_B5203; source_row=38663
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 agreed that while the Petitioner's work has substantial merit, he failed to show that his specific proposed endeavor—a legal consulting company expected to hire 15 employees and generate $5.746M over five years—would have prospective impact on a national scale.…

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AAO agreed that while the Petitioner's work has substantial merit, he failed to show that his specific proposed endeavor—a legal consulting company expected to hire 15 employees and generate $5.746M over five years—would have prospective impact on a national scale. General industry data and claims about U.S.-Brazil trade relations do not establish national importance of the specific endeavor, and the expert opinion letter lacked probative value because it addressed Brazil's legal environment rather than the proposed endeavor's prospective impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-03_02_B5203; source_row=38636
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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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 disagreed with the Director's finding that the endeavor lacks substantial merit and withdrew that determination, finding it does have substantial merit. However, AAO agreed the overall prong is not met because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance: her evidence did not show her approach differs from existing methods, the expert opinion lacked independence, and the impacts of her work would not rise beyo…

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AAO disagreed with the Director's finding that the endeavor lacks substantial merit and withdrew that determination, finding it does have substantial merit. However, AAO agreed the overall prong is not met because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance: her evidence did not show her approach differs from existing methods, the expert opinion lacked independence, and the impacts of her work would not rise beyond her individual clients to a level commensurate with national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-03_08_B5203; source_row=38660
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The Petitioner's quality control consulting work does not rise to national importance, business plan projections lacked corroborating evidence, and the record did not detail the Petitioner's intended role in eco-friendly glass development or its broader national implications.…

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. The Petitioner's quality control consulting work does not rise to national importance, business plan projections lacked corroborating evidence, and the record did not detail the Petitioner's intended role in eco-friendly glass development or its broader national implications. Letters of support regarding the Petitioner's skills were more relevant to the second Dhanasar prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-03_05_B5203; source_row=38651
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 that the Director properly considered national importance by examining prospective impact broadly, including employment and economic effects. The business plan lacked corroborating evidence for employment and profit projections, and the Petitioner's general economic claims were insufficiently detailed.…

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AAO agreed that the Director properly considered national importance by examining prospective impact broadly, including employment and economic effects. The business plan lacked corroborating evidence for employment and profit projections, and the Petitioner's general economic claims were insufficiently detailed. AAO also noted that the importance of the broader field (ADHD) is not itself sufficient; the specific proposed endeavor must show national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-03_03_B5203; source_row=38641
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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