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 46914700

NIWprocedural or otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

motion to reconsider requirements

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the merits of the reconsideration arguments because the Director had not addressed them, making the record not ripe for appellate review, and remanded for the Director to evaluate them in the first instance.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach the merits of the reconsideration arguments because the Director had not addressed them, making the record not ripe for appellate review, and remanded for the Director to evaluate them in the first instance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_05_B5203; source_row=37775
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 the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong three because the dispositive failure on the national importance element of prong one rendered it unnecessary to address.

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 dispositive failure on the national importance element of prong one rendered it unnecessary to address.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_09_B5203; source_row=37794
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 endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong two because the dispositive failure on the national importance element of prong one rendered it unnecessary to address.

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 dispositive failure on the national importance element of prong one rendered it unnecessary to address.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_09_B5203; source_row=37793
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

offered job's need for an advanced degree

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner's appellate assertions persuasive and concluded a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates the offered job requires at least an advanced degree.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the Petitioner's appellate assertions persuasive and concluded a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates the offered job requires at least an advanced degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_01_B5203; source_row=37757
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay combined proffered wages

Why the evidence was persuasive

Net current assets covered the shortfall and the Petitioner's substantial size and revenue support a finding of ability to pay under the totality of the circumstances.

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Net current assets covered the shortfall and the Petitioner's substantial size and revenue support a finding of ability to pay under the totality of the circumstances.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_01_B5203; source_row=37756
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

intent to employ beneficiary under terms of labor certification

What the decision said

AAO found intent to employ established through April 2024 because the work was in the same job and same metropolitan statistical area, but reserved the question of intent beyond April 2024 and remanded for additional evidence.

Why this is useful

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AAO found intent to employ established through April 2024 because the work was in the same job and same metropolitan statistical area, but reserved the question of intent beyond April 2024 and remanded for additional evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_01_B5203; source_row=37758
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 job offer

What the decision said

The AAO reserved its opinion on prong 3 because failure on prong 1 was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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The AAO reserved its opinion on prong 3 because failure on prong 1 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_07_B5203; source_row=37787
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

The AAO reserved its opinion on prong 2 because the failure on prong 1 was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO reserved its opinion on prong 2 because the failure on prong 1 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_07_B5203; source_row=37786
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

years of experience in the occupation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO confirmed the Director's finding that the record supports the Petitioner meeting this criterion.

Why this is useful

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AAO confirmed the Director's finding that the record supports the Petitioner meeting this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_06_B5203; source_row=37777
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record relating to area of exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The certificates provided did not originate from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning, and the high school transcript and other course certificates did not relate to the Petitioner's purported area of exceptional ability.

Why this is useful

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The certificates provided did not originate from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning, and the high school transcript and other course certificates did not relate to the Petitioner's purported area of exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-23_06_B5203; source_row=37776
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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