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 46514660

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 explicitly reserved this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the third 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 explicitly reserved this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the third prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_10_B5203; source_row=37844
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this prong because the failure on national importance 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 declined to reach this prong because the failure on national importance was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_12_B5203; source_row=37849
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach this prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_12_B5203; source_row=37850
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 the third prong because the first prong's national importance requirement was not met, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach the third prong because the first prong's national importance requirement was not met, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_11_B5203; source_row=37847
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 the second prong because the first prong's national importance requirement was not met, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to reach the second prong because the first prong's national importance requirement was not met, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_11_B5203; source_row=37846
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

New facts supported by evidence to warrant reopening

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not submit new facts supported by documentary evidence addressed to the most recent AAO decision dismissing her first combined motion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not submit new facts supported by documentary evidence addressed to the most recent AAO decision dismissing her first combined motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_03_B5203; source_row=37826
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Erroneous application of law or USCIS policy in most recent decision

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner failed to establish that the AAO incorrectly applied the law or USCIS policy in dismissing her first combined motion, as her brief did not address that decision at all.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner failed to establish that the AAO incorrectly applied the law or USCIS policy in dismissing her first combined motion, as her brief did not address that decision at all.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_03_B5203; source_row=37827
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved prong two as unnecessary to reach given that prong one is 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 explicitly reserved prong two as unnecessary to reach given that prong one is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_07_B5203; source_row=37836
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved prong three as unnecessary to reach given that prong one is dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved prong three as unnecessary to reach given that prong one is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_07_B5203; source_row=37837
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner provided minimal details about his proposed endeavor, had not yet implemented the SMED system as of filing, had not written peer-reviewed papers or given presentations, and did not demonstrate that schools, universities, or airlines had expressed interest in his services. His self-description as an entrepreneur was unsupported by evidence of any business venture.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner provided minimal details about his proposed endeavor, had not yet implemented the SMED system as of filing, had not written peer-reviewed papers or given presentations, and did not demonstrate that schools, universities, or airlines had expressed interest in his services. His self-description as an entrepreneur was unsupported by evidence of any business venture.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-28_06_B5203; source_row=37832
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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