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 48314840

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 explicitly reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the decision, having found the first prong 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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AAO explicitly reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the decision, having found the first prong dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_04_B5203; source_row=37577
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 explicitly reserved the third prong as unnecessary to the decision, having found the first prong 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 the third prong as unnecessary to the decision, having found the first prong dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_04_B5203; source_row=37578
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and contributions (F)

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not assert error in the Director's conclusions regarding criterion (F) and did not claim to meet it on appeal; the issue is considered waived.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not assert error in the Director's conclusions regarding criterion (F) and did not claim to meet it on appeal; the issue is considered waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_03_B5203; source_row=37571
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience (B)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the employment record was riddled with inconsistencies across documents, employment letters failed to specify full-time status, and overlapping claimed employment periods further undermined the reliability of the claimed ten years of full-time experience.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the employment record was riddled with inconsistencies across documents, employment letters failed to specify full-time status, and overlapping claimed employment periods further undermined the reliability of the claimed ten years of full-time experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_03_B5203; source_row=37567
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice the profession (C)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the license issued 18 months after filing cannot establish eligibility at the time the petition was filed, and the Petitioner offered no substantive response to this deficiency on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that the license issued 18 months after filing cannot establish eligibility at the time the petition was filed, and the Petitioner offered no substantive response to this deficiency on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_03_B5203; source_row=37568
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record criterion (A)

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not assert error in the Director's conclusions regarding criterion (A) and did not claim to meet it on appeal; the issue is considered waived.

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 assert error in the Director's conclusions regarding criterion (A) and did not claim to meet it on appeal; the issue is considered waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_03_B5203; source_row=37566
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 reserved judgment on the second prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish national importance under the first prong 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 reserved judgment on the second prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish national importance under the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_10_B5203; source_row=37603
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the third prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish national importance under the first prong 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 reserved judgment on the third prong because the Petitioner's failure to establish national importance under the first prong is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_10_B5203; source_row=37604
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner failed to show how his project management services would have broader implications in the IT industry beyond his future employer(s), did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects at a national level, and did not adequately document how his proposed position would have a significant economic impact on the PPM market.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the Petitioner failed to show how his project management services would have broader implications in the IT industry beyond his future employer(s), did not demonstrate significant potential to employ U.S. workers or substantial positive economic effects at a national level, and did not adequately document how his proposed position would have a significant economic impact on the PPM market. Letters of recommendation did not offer persuasive detail about the impact of the endeavor beyond his employer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_08_B5203; source_row=37596
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

AAO explicitly reserved this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish eligibility under the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the second.

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 this prong because the Petitioner failed to establish eligibility under the first prong, making it unnecessary to reach the second.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-14_08_B5203; source_row=37597
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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