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

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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 concludes Petitioner failed to show prospective national impact. Her assertions are not supported by objective evidence; the RIMS II broad-category multipliers don't capture her specific endeavor; her hiring/diversity claims and asserted talent shortage remediation are unsubstantiated; and shortages are addressed via labor certification.

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AAO concludes Petitioner failed to show prospective national impact. Her assertions are not supported by objective evidence; the RIMS II broad-category multipliers don't capture her specific endeavor; her hiring/diversity claims and asserted talent shortage remediation are unsubstantiated; and shortages are addressed via labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_06_B5203; source_row=38104
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 reserves prong 2 as unnecessary because the prong-1 failure is dispositive.

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AAO reserves prong 2 as unnecessary because the prong-1 failure is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_06_B5203; source_row=38105
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Critical and Emerging Technologies List identifying additive manufacturing as a critical technology, combined with expert letters explaining the national significance of the Petitioner's research for aerospace, military, and NASA applications, demonstrated national importance. AAO also noted that research endeavors may show national importance regardless of economic benefits.

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AAO found that the Critical and Emerging Technologies List identifying additive manufacturing as a critical technology, combined with expert letters explaining the national significance of the Petitioner's research for aerospace, military, and NASA applications, demonstrated national importance. AAO also noted that research endeavors may show national importance regardless of economic benefits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_10_B5203; source_row=38113
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the support letters came only from current and former advisors and institutional colleagues, with no evidence of interest from outside entities. The citation evidence was from an unidentified source that did not specify which articles were cited or at what frequency. The grant was an internal academic graduate scholarship, not external competitive funding.…

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AAO found that the support letters came only from current and former advisors and institutional colleagues, with no evidence of interest from outside entities. The citation evidence was from an unidentified source that did not specify which articles were cited or at what frequency. The grant was an internal academic graduate scholarship, not external competitive funding. None of the Petitioner's listed articles addressed her specific proposed research topics.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_10_B5203; source_row=38114
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach and reserved the second prong because the Petitioner had not established the national importance of his proposed endeavor under prong one, making a prong two analysis unnecessary.

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AAO declined to reach and reserved the second prong because the Petitioner had not established the national importance of his proposed endeavor under prong one, making a prong two analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_13_B5203; source_row=38123
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach and reserved the third prong because the Petitioner had not established the national importance of his proposed endeavor under prong one, making a prong three analysis unnecessary.

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AAO declined to reach and reserved the third prong because the Petitioner had not established the national importance of his proposed endeavor under prong one, making a prong three analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_13_B5203; source_row=38124
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated 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 did not separately analyze this prong, as the appeal was resolved on the national importance sub-issue of prong one.

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AAO did not separately analyze this prong, as the appeal was resolved on the national importance sub-issue of prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_11_B5203; source_row=38117
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 prong 3 as unnecessary in light of prong 1 failure.

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AAO reserved prong 3 as unnecessary in light of prong 1 failure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_09_B5203; source_row=38112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

Authorship of scholarly articles

What the decision said

AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner could not meet three of ten criteria even if this and criterion (viii) were found in her favor.

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AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner could not meet three of ten criteria even if this and criterion (viii) were found in her favor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_02_B2203; source_row=38089
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

Display of work at artistic exhibitions

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the Petitioner failed to address criterion (vii) in response to the second RFE despite having been put on notice, AAO declined to consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal under Matter of Soriano and Matter of Obaigbena.

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Because the Petitioner failed to address criterion (vii) in response to the second RFE despite having been put on notice, AAO declined to consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal under Matter of Soriano and Matter of Obaigbena.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-11_02_B2203; source_row=38090
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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