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 4891–4900

EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record supports the Director's determination that the scholarly articles criterion was satisfied.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO found the record supports the Director's determination that the scholarly articles criterion was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_01_B2203; source_row=37462
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record supports the Director's determination that the judging criterion was satisfied.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the record supports the Director's determination that the judging criterion was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_01_B2203; source_row=37460
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Member of the professions holding an advanced degree

What the decision said

The Petitioner's appellate brief did not address the profession issue, so AAO deemed it waived. AAO could not conclude she overcame the Director's finding, making dismissal appropriate on this basis alone.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner's appellate brief did not address the profession issue, so AAO deemed it waived. AAO could not conclude she overcame the Director's finding, making dismissal appropriate on this basis alone.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_05_B5203; source_row=37476
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 requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved its opinion on the third prong because the failure on prong one was dispositive.

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 reserved its opinion on the third prong because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_03_B5203; source_row=37472
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 reserved its opinion on the second prong because the failure on prong one 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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AAO reserved its opinion on the second prong because the failure on prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_03_B5203; source_row=37471
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 that the Petitioner's field-level evidence (industry reports, articles) establishes the importance of cybersecurity generally but does not show the specific proposed endeavor's broader national or global impact.…

Why this is useful

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AAO found that the Petitioner's field-level evidence (industry reports, articles) establishes the importance of cybersecurity generally but does not show the specific proposed endeavor's broader national or global impact. An intent to hire seven employees does not rise to the level of a significant broader economic impact, and her work helping New Jersey credit unions does not demonstrate national or global implications within the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_02_B5203; source_row=37467
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 reserved judgment on the second prong because the Petitioner failed on the first prong, making the second prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.

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 judgment on the second prong because the Petitioner failed on the first prong, making the second prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_07_B5203; source_row=37486
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 reserved judgment on the third prong because the Petitioner failed on the first prong, making the third prong 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.

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AAO reserved judgment on the third prong because the Petitioner failed on the first prong, making the third prong unnecessary to the ultimate decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_07_B5203; source_row=37487
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination — expertise significantly above ordinary level

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the evidence demonstrated the Petitioner's role was 'important' and performance 'excellent,' but failed to show expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the field.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed that the evidence demonstrated the Petitioner's role was 'important' and performance 'excellent,' but failed to show expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_06_B5203; source_row=37481
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's evidence acknowledged the importance of mental health generally but did not corroborate the specific endeavor's prospective broad impact, nor did it provide expert or government letters tied to her specific proposal as in Dhanasar.

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's evidence acknowledged the importance of mental health generally but did not corroborate the specific endeavor's prospective broad impact, nor did it provide expert or government letters tied to her specific proposal as in Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-05-09_01_B5203; source_row=37464
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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