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 45614570

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

Because the failure to establish national importance under the first prong was dispositive, AAO expressly declined to reach the third prong and reserved the appellate arguments on that issue.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Because the failure to establish national importance under the first prong was dispositive, AAO expressly declined to reach the third prong and reserved the appellate arguments on that issue.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_03_B5203; source_row=37972
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Director found this prong satisfied but did not revisit it, as the first prong was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO noted that the Director found this prong satisfied but did not revisit it, as the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_03_B5203; source_row=37971
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics14 reviews

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's step-one finding but flagged potential insufficiency, declining to remand in the interest of finality.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO accepted the Director's step-one finding but flagged potential insufficiency, declining to remand in the interest of finality.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_01_B2203; source_row=37961
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

The AAO reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO reserved judgment on the second prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_04_B5203; source_row=37974
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

The AAO reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO reserved judgment on the third prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_04_B5203; source_row=37975
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the second prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the second prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_02_B5203; source_row=37968
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the third prong because the failure to satisfy the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_02_B5203; source_row=37969
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 reserved the second prong as unnecessary given the Petitioner's failure to establish the first prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the second prong as unnecessary given the Petitioner's failure to establish the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_05_B5203; source_row=37977
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 waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary given the Petitioner's failure to establish the first prong.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved the third prong as unnecessary given the Petitioner's failure to establish the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_05_B5203; source_row=37978
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 waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong as unnecessary because the Petitioner had not established national importance under the first prong, and reaching the third prong would serve no meaningful purpose.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved this prong as unnecessary because the Petitioner had not established national importance under the first prong, and reaching the third prong would serve no meaningful purpose.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-06-04_06_B5203; source_row=37981
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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