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 43014310

NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO declines to make a substantive finding and remands so the Director can analyze the business plan, expert opinion, and other evidence and explain the reasoning under both substantial merit and 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.

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AAO declines to make a substantive finding and remands so the Director can analyze the business plan, expert opinion, and other evidence and explain the reasoning under both substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-26_03_B5203; source_row=38466
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO expressly reserved this prong, noting its de novo review did not appear to support the Director's finding but declining to reach it because the first prong and advanced-degree findings were dispositive.

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 expressly reserved this prong, noting its de novo review did not appear to support the Director's finding but declining to reach it because the first prong and advanced-degree findings were dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-26_05_B5203; source_row=38474
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 to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong entirely without analysis, citing Bagamasbad, as the first prong and advanced-degree findings were dispositive.

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 reserved this prong entirely without analysis, citing Bagamasbad, as the first prong and advanced-degree findings were dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-26_05_B5203; source_row=38475
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved determination on the second and third Dhanasar prongs because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong is dispositive.

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 reserved determination on the second and third Dhanasar prongs because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-26_01_B5203; source_row=38440
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved determination on the third Dhanasar prong because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong is dispositive.

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 reserved determination on the third Dhanasar prong because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-26_01_B5203; source_row=38441
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO declines to reach this criterion because the Petitioner has already established three criteria.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declines to reach this criterion because the Petitioner has already established three criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-26_03_B2203; source_row=38459
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the individual in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagrees with the Director's dismissal of the publications as mere web portals, finding credible letters and circulation evidence demonstrate the publications are widely known professional publications, and finds the New York Times pandemic article qualifies as published material about the Petitioner even though it featured several artists.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO disagrees with the Director's dismissal of the publications as mere web portals, finding credible letters and circulation evidence demonstrate the publications are widely known professional publications, and finds the New York Times pandemic article qualifies as published material about the Petitioner even though it featured several artists.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-26_03_B2203; source_row=38460
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 concluded that the Petitioner's evidence and personal statement focused on the importance of the marketing industry as a whole rather than the specific prospective impact of his proposed consultancy.…

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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AAO concluded that the Petitioner's evidence and personal statement focused on the importance of the marketing industry as a whole rather than the specific prospective impact of his proposed consultancy. The record did not establish that the endeavor would impact the industry more broadly or have substantial positive economic effects beyond his prospective clients, and the Petitioner's statements about promoting 'new ideas' were insufficiently specific.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_05_B5203; source_row=38404
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

high salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the wage comparisons for 'electronics technician' did not meet the burden for a senior field service engineer, and that the Petitioner failed to establish whether his wages included overtime or other additional pay unrelated to exceptional ability, making the salary comparison unreliable.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the wage comparisons for 'electronics technician' did not meet the burden for a senior field service engineer, and that the Petitioner failed to establish whether his wages included overtime or other additional pay unrelated to exceptional ability, making the salary comparison unreliable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_11_B5203; source_row=38425
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 the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The business plan lacked sufficient detail and documentation to support claims of broad prospective impact beyond the Petitioner's clientele, projected employment of 15 direct and 31 indirect jobs was insufficient to demonstrate substantial economic impact, and the evidence did not show the consulting endeavor would affect the agricultural sector broadly at…

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 agreed that the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The business plan lacked sufficient detail and documentation to support claims of broad prospective impact beyond the Petitioner's clientele, projected employment of 15 direct and 31 indirect jobs was insufficient to demonstrate substantial economic impact, and the evidence did not show the consulting endeavor would affect the agricultural sector broadly at a national level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_10_B5203; source_row=38419
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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