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 43214330

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalPhysician

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure to satisfy the first prong.

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 the second prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure to satisfy the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_04_B5203; source_row=38402
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalPhysician

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure to satisfy the first prong.

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 the third prong as unnecessary to the outcome given the failure to satisfy the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_04_B5203; source_row=38403
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

sufficiency of director's decision for appellate review

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the director's decision deficient because it merely listed evidence without analysis, mischaracterized the proposed endeavor, and did not explain the specific reasons for denial.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the director's decision deficient because it merely listed evidence without analysis, mischaracterized the proposed endeavor, and did not explain the specific reasons for denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_06_B5203; source_row=38407
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's third prong determination was conclusory because it identified the relevant considerations but failed to discuss the evidence weighed in the balancing analysis. AAO remanded for proper analysis.

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 found the Director's third prong determination was conclusory because it identified the relevant considerations but failed to discuss the evidence weighed in the balancing analysis. AAO remanded for proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_08_B5203; source_row=38414
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's conclusion that the Petitioner failed to describe his endeavor was unsupported by the record, and that the Director failed to discuss most of the evidence submitted on national importance. AAO did not itself resolve the prong but remanded for proper analysis.

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 found the Director's conclusion that the Petitioner failed to describe his endeavor was unsupported by the record, and that the Director failed to discuss most of the evidence submitted on national importance. AAO did not itself resolve the prong but remanded for proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_08_B5203; source_row=38412
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner credibly explained his submission of secondary evidence and that the evidence was sufficient by a preponderance to show an advanced degree equivalent under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k).

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AAO found the Petitioner credibly explained his submission of secondary evidence and that the evidence was sufficient by a preponderance to show an advanced degree equivalent under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_08_B5203; source_row=38411
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 because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under prong one.

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 declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_07_B5203; source_row=38410
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 declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under prong one, making analysis of prong two 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 declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under prong one, making analysis of prong two unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-25_07_B5203; source_row=38409
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that substantial merit was shown but national importance was not. A shortage of qualified professionals alone does not render an individual physician's work nationally important. The Petitioner's clinical work at a single hospital involves only individual patient care and lacks the broader prospective impact on the field required under Dhanasar.

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 agreed that substantial merit was shown but national importance was not. A shortage of qualified professionals alone does not render an individual physician's work nationally important. The Petitioner's clinical work at a single hospital involves only individual patient care and lacks the broader prospective impact on the field required under Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-24_05_B5203; source_row=38389
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 that the Petitioner's two financial forecasts were mutually inconsistent and unexplained, undermining the reliability of his economic projections. Even setting aside this inconsistency, the Petitioner failed to show significant potential to employ U.S. workers, that the area was economically depressed, or that the endeavor would have substantial positive economic effects rising to 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 found that the Petitioner's two financial forecasts were mutually inconsistent and unexplained, undermining the reliability of his economic projections. Even setting aside this inconsistency, the Petitioner failed to show significant potential to employ U.S. workers, that the area was economically depressed, or that the endeavor would have substantial positive economic effects rising to national importance. The claim of improving U.S.-Brazil trade relations was also unsubstantiated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-24_03_B5203; source_row=38383
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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