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 47514760

NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has substantial merit but failed to demonstrate national importance. The expert letter and reference letters focused on the Petitioner's personal skills rather than the national prospective impact of the endeavor itself, and the Petitioner's claimed economic impacts were based on generalizations about typical business activity rather than specific evidence of how her partic…

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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 agreed that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has substantial merit but failed to demonstrate national importance. The expert letter and reference letters focused on the Petitioner's personal skills rather than the national prospective impact of the endeavor itself, and the Petitioner's claimed economic impacts were based on generalizations about typical business activity rather than specific evidence of how her particular work would produce regional or national effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_01_B5203; source_row=37677
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the criterion was met but found that the Petitioner's work both as an actor and as a film producer exhibited at film festivals met the plain language of this criterion, disagreeing with the Director's unexplained distinction.

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AAO agreed the criterion was met but found that the Petitioner's work both as an actor and as a film producer exhibited at film festivals met the plain language of this criterion, disagreeing with the Director's unexplained distinction.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_01_B2203; source_row=37674
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director's denial contained sufficient explanations of deficiencies. Media articles did not establish critical acclaim or commercial success at the national or international level; judging invitations did not reflect national or international eminence; and film awards lacked contemporaneous probative evidence of prestige. The Petitioner had not shown a career of sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO found the Director's denial contained sufficient explanations of deficiencies. Media articles did not establish critical acclaim or commercial success at the national or international level; judging invitations did not reflect national or international eminence; and film awards lacked contemporaneous probative evidence of prestige. The Petitioner had not shown a career of sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_01_B2203; source_row=37676
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Petitioner met this criterion based on articles in Il Resto Del Carlino discussing the Petitioner and her work.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner met this criterion based on articles in Il Resto Del Carlino discussing the Petitioner and her work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_01_B2203; source_row=37672
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

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner meets this criterion based on her judging work at the film festivals.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner meets this criterion based on her judging work at the film festivals.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_01_B2203; source_row=37673
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

substantial and probative evidence of marriage fraud under section 204(c)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO independently reviews the record and agrees that substantial and probative evidence supports the marriage-fraud determination. It rejects the Petitioner's procedural arguments as misplaced and notes that section 204(c) is a permanent bar precluding approval regardless of NIW merits.

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AAO independently reviews the record and agrees that substantial and probative evidence supports the marriage-fraud determination. It rejects the Petitioner's procedural arguments as misplaced and notes that section 204(c) is a permanent bar precluding approval regardless of NIW merits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_03_B5203; source_row=37690
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 explicitly declined to reach prong two because the failure of prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

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

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AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two because the failure of prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_02_B5203; source_row=37688
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 and labor certification

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the failure of prong one was dispositive of the appeal.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the failure of prong one was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_02_B5203; source_row=37689
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on criterion (v) on appeal; AAO noted this in a footnote.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on criterion (v) on appeal; AAO noted this in a footnote.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_02_B2203; source_row=37683
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the employer letter and supporting evidence demonstrated the Petitioner held a critical role for a distinguished organization.

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AAO agreed that the employer letter and supporting evidence demonstrated the Petitioner held a critical role for a distinguished organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-17_02_B2203; source_row=37685
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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