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 42014210

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManagerBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits determination but observed in dicta that the record does not establish the requisite acclaim or top-of-field status.

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AAO reserved the final merits determination but observed in dicta that the record does not establish the requisite acclaim or top-of-field status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-02_03_B2203; source_row=38615
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManagerBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the Director's favorable finding on the display criterion.

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AAO did not disturb the Director's favorable finding on the display criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-02_03_B2203; source_row=38612
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner satisfies the display criterion, noting record documentation of artistic exhibitions at multiple venues.

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AAO found the Petitioner satisfies the display criterion, noting record documentation of artistic exhibitions at multiple venues.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-02_01_B2203; source_row=38597
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 did not reach the second prong because the first prong was not satisfied.

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AAO did not reach the second prong because the first prong was not satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-02_06_B5203; source_row=38626
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's submitted evidence addressed the importance of the sustainable construction field broadly rather than the prospective impact of his specific proposed endeavor. The company's projected 17 full-time employees over five years and $50,000 investment letter were insufficient to show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects at the national level.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's submitted evidence addressed the importance of the sustainable construction field broadly rather than the prospective impact of his specific proposed endeavor. The company's projected 17 full-time employees over five years and $50,000 investment letter were insufficient to show significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects at the national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_06_B5203; source_row=38570
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 found the Petitioner's evidence focused on the general importance of nutrition and nutritionists rather than the specific prospective impact of her proposed endeavor. Business plan projections for revenue, job creation, and geographic expansion lacked supporting detail, and the Petitioner failed to show her services would extend beyond her company and clientele to impact the field or economy at a nationally important le…

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AAO found the Petitioner's evidence focused on the general importance of nutrition and nutritionists rather than the specific prospective impact of her proposed endeavor. Business plan projections for revenue, job creation, and geographic expansion lacked supporting detail, and the Petitioner failed to show her services would extend beyond her company and clientele to impact the field or economy at a nationally important level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_09_B5203; source_row=38580
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. His business plan projections for staffing and revenue were unsupported, his evidence about operations managers addressed the field generally rather than his specific endeavor, his proposed wages were notably low, and he did not demonstrate his company would operate at sufficient scale to substantially affect the national or regional economy.

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The AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. His business plan projections for staffing and revenue were unsupported, his evidence about operations managers addressed the field generally rather than his specific endeavor, his proposed wages were notably low, and he did not demonstrate his company would operate at sufficient scale to substantially affect the national or regional economy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_07_B5203; source_row=38573
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's RFE response presented a materially different proposed endeavor (CEO/owner of a financial consulting firm rather than a financial manager) that could not retroactively establish eligibility.…

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's RFE response presented a materially different proposed endeavor (CEO/owner of a financial consulting firm rather than a financial manager) that could not retroactively establish eligibility. Independently, even if the company plan had been timely submitted, employing six professionals in New York and serving a local clientele did not show broader field-level implications or significant potential to employ U.S. workers or produce substantial positive economic effects to meet the national importance standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_11_B5203; source_row=38587
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's final merits determination. The Petitioner failed to show that the significance of his work, peer review activities, publication record, citation history, patent applications, research funding, or credentials demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of the field.

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AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's final merits determination. The Petitioner failed to show that the significance of his work, peer review activities, publication record, citation history, patent applications, research funding, or credentials demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_01_B2203; source_row=38555
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree qualification via five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director, noting the letters were not from current or former employers and lacked detail on progressive experience as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1), and that the Petitioner offered no new evidence or explanations on appeal.

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AAO affirmed the Director, noting the letters were not from current or former employers and lacked detail on progressive experience as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1), and that the Petitioner offered no new evidence or explanations on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_02_B5203; source_row=38559
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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