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 44714480

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal, citing INS v. Bagamasbad.

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 because the Petitioner's failure on the first prong was dispositive of the appeal, citing INS v. Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_07_B5203; source_row=38156
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 the evidence did not demonstrate any broader implications of the proposed endeavor at a national level, and that the proposed Jiu Jitsu company would not reach beyond its own clients to affect the field of athletic training nationally.

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 evidence did not demonstrate any broader implications of the proposed endeavor at a national level, and that the proposed Jiu Jitsu company would not reach beyond its own clients to affect the field of athletic training nationally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_03_B5203; source_row=38141
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 did not reach the third prong because the petition failed on 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 did not reach the third prong because the petition failed on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_03_B5203; source_row=38143
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 did not reach the second prong because the petition failed on 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 did not reach the second prong because the petition failed on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_03_B5203; source_row=38142
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / EnergyBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record / degree or certificate from institution of learning

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the certificates were issued by an online platform (not an institution of learning), represented only individual non-credit courses (not degrees, diplomas, or comparable awards), and did not sufficiently show how the disparate topics related to the Petitioner's claimed area of exceptional ability.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the certificates were issued by an online platform (not an institution of learning), represented only individual non-credit courses (not degrees, diplomas, or comparable awards), and did not sufficiently show how the disparate topics related to the Petitioner's claimed area of exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_09_B5203; source_row=38161
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / EnergyBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — exceptional ability

What the decision said

AAO withdrew the Director's final merits determination as clearly erroneous (it evaluated evidence under criteria the Director had already found not met) and declined to conduct its own final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet even three threshold criteria.

Why this is useful

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AAO withdrew the Director's final merits determination as clearly erroneous (it evaluated evidence under criteria the Director had already found not met) and declined to conduct its own final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet even three threshold criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_09_B5203; source_row=38165
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / EnergyBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions by peers, governmental entities, or professional/business organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters reflected a competent and valued professional but did not evidence achievements or significant contributions significantly above those ordinarily encountered in the field, and failed to establish the required level of expertise for exceptional ability.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the letters reflected a competent and valued professional but did not evidence achievements or significant contributions significantly above those ordinarily encountered in the field, and failed to establish the required level of expertise for exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_09_B5203; source_row=38164
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / EnergyBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

at least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO confirmed that the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence demonstrating at least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation.

Why this is useful

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AAO confirmed that the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence demonstrating at least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_09_B5203; source_row=38162
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded the Petitioner did not materially change her proposed endeavor, that MCNP authorization is irrelevant to the first prong, and that the evidence—including letters from field experts and data from the American Cancer Society—credibly establishes the substantial merit and national importance of improving semiconductor detectors for radiation therapy.…

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 the Petitioner did not materially change her proposed endeavor, that MCNP authorization is irrelevant to the first prong, and that the evidence—including letters from field experts and data from the American Cancer Society—credibly establishes the substantial merit and national importance of improving semiconductor detectors for radiation therapy. AAO also found the Director's use of the vacated NYSDOT framework to be a legal error.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_05_B5203; source_row=38149
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 does not reach prong three because the prong-one failure is dispositive of the NIW analysis.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO does not reach prong three because the prong-one failure is dispositive of the NIW analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-12_06_B5203; source_row=38154
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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