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 42214230

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 declined to reach the second prong, as the Petitioner was already ineligible based on the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong, as the Petitioner was already ineligible based on the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_11_B5203; source_row=38588
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 declined to reach the third prong, as the Petitioner was already ineligible based on the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong, as the Petitioner was already ineligible based on the first prong, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_11_B5203; source_row=38589
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found the judging criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding.

Why this is useful

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

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The Director found the judging criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_01_B2203; source_row=38552
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found the scholarly articles criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding.

Why this is useful

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

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The Director found the scholarly articles criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_01_B2203; source_row=38554
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found the original contributions of major significance criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding.

Why this is useful

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

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The Director found the original contributions of major significance criterion met and AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_01_B2203; source_row=38553
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent of U.S. bachelor's degree

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the diploma, transcripts, and educational evaluation establish the Petitioner holds the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that the diploma, transcripts, and educational evaluation establish the Petitioner holds the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_12_B5203; source_row=38590
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate work experience in the specialty

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the accountant letter inadmissible without the original Portuguese document, found company documents insufficient to show full-time management for five years, noted concerns about concurrent management of two companies, and found business associate letters lacking in specificity about duration of engagement.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the accountant letter inadmissible without the original Portuguese document, found company documents insufficient to show full-time management for five years, noted concerns about concurrent management of two companies, and found business associate letters lacking in specificity about duration of engagement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_12_B5203; source_row=38591
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree qualification (five years progressive post-baccalaureate experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's approval of the EB-2 threshold finding on appeal, concluding the evidence was insufficient to demonstrate five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience. On motion, the Petitioner waived any challenge to this finding by declining to dispute it.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the Director's approval of the EB-2 threshold finding on appeal, concluding the evidence was insufficient to demonstrate five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience. On motion, the Petitioner waived any challenge to this finding by declining to dispute it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_04_B5203; source_row=38563
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

The AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence addressed nutrition and dietitian work in general, not her specific proposed endeavor. Expert and recommendation letters did not address the proposed endeavor specifically. Projected employment of 8–34 people and tax/wage projections lacked supporting evidence of significant economic impact.…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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The AAO found that the Petitioner's evidence addressed nutrition and dietitian work in general, not her specific proposed endeavor. Expert and recommendation letters did not address the proposed endeavor specifically. Projected employment of 8–34 people and tax/wage projections lacked supporting evidence of significant economic impact. The telehealth platform would not have national implications beyond the individual patients it serves.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-07-01_01_B5203; source_row=38556
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

While the Petitioner's endeavor has substantial merit and he has relevant experience in the vehicle auction industry, the record shows the impact of his proposed consulting firm would be limited to its employees and clients, without demonstrating broader national or global implications.…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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While the Petitioner's endeavor has substantial merit and he has relevant experience in the vehicle auction industry, the record shows the impact of his proposed consulting firm would be limited to its employees and clients, without demonstrating broader national or global implications. The articles about management consulting and small businesses failed to show how the Petitioner's specific endeavor would reach the level of national importance contemplated by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-28_09_B5203; source_row=38549
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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