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 47314740

NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner's Brazilian HR management diploma, evaluated as equivalent to three years of U.S. undergraduate coursework, satisfies the criterion.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner's Brazilian HR management diploma, evaluated as equivalent to three years of U.S. undergraduate coursework, satisfies the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_05_B5203; source_row=37726
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

The Director's decision did not discuss the evidence weighed in balancing the considerations or address the Petitioner's specific claims, making meaningful appellate review impossible. AAO withdraws the Director's determination and remands for a proper evaluation.

Why this is useful

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

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The Director's decision did not discuss the evidence weighed in balancing the considerations or address the Petitioner's specific claims, making meaningful appellate review impossible. AAO withdraws the Director's determination and remands for a proper evaluation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_02_B5203; source_row=37722
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO notes the Director's conclusion was unexplained and the Petitioner did not complete Part 6 of the petition, providing only a broad description of her proposed consultancy. AAO reserves judgment and instructs the Director on remand to analyze whether the record sufficiently describes the endeavor and whether it has substantial merit and national importance.

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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO notes the Director's conclusion was unexplained and the Petitioner did not complete Part 6 of the petition, providing only a broad description of her proposed consultancy. AAO reserves judgment and instructs the Director on remand to analyze whether the record sufficiently describes the endeavor and whether it has substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_02_B5203; source_row=37720
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 Director's decision failed to identify or analyze the Petitioner's submitted evidence and did not explain the basis for the denial, depriving the Petitioner of a fair opportunity to contest the decision. AAO withdraws the Director's determination and remands for a full evaluation of the evidence.

Why this is useful

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The Director's decision failed to identify or analyze the Petitioner's submitted evidence and did not explain the basis for the denial, depriving the Petitioner of a fair opportunity to contest the decision. AAO withdraws the Director's determination and remands for a full evaluation of the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_02_B5203; source_row=37721
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not address the second prong on appeal, as the Petitioner did not challenge this finding and it was unnecessary to the outcome.

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 address the second prong on appeal, as the Petitioner did not challenge this finding and it was unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_03_B5203; source_row=37724
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved prong three as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because prong one was already dispositive against the petitioner.

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AAO reserved prong three as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because prong one was already dispositive against the petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_01_B5203; source_row=37718
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved prong two as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because prong one was already dispositive against the petitioner.

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 reserved prong two as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because prong one was already dispositive against the petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_01_B5203; source_row=37717
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found the judging criterion met and the Petitioner did not contest it on appeal; AAO did not disturb this finding.

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The Director found the judging criterion met and the Petitioner did not contest it on appeal; AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_01_B2203; source_row=37712
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of at least three criteria, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. In the alternative, AAO noted the record does not support sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of at least three criteria, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. In the alternative, AAO noted the record does not support sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_01_B2203; source_row=37715
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found the scholarly articles criterion met and the Petitioner did not contest it on appeal; AAO did not disturb this finding.

Why this is useful

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The Director found the scholarly articles criterion met and the Petitioner did not contest it on appeal; AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-21_01_B2203; source_row=37714
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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