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 5241–5250

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 submitted conflicting assertions about pursuing the endeavor full-time versus completing his dissertation, failed to show receipt of any funding, and asserted prospective national impact in an implausibly broad array of fields without objective supporting evidence.…

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 that the Petitioner submitted conflicting assertions about pursuing the endeavor full-time versus completing his dissertation, failed to show receipt of any funding, and asserted prospective national impact in an implausibly broad array of fields without objective supporting evidence. The support letters lacked substantiation for their far-reaching conclusions, and the Petitioner's comparison to Dhanasar was unavailing given his lower level of focus and documentation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_08_B5203; source_row=36935
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong as unnecessary given the EB-2 qualification failure.

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 reserved this prong as unnecessary given the EB-2 qualification failure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_05_B5203; source_row=36926
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The personal recognitions in the letters did not show recognition for achievements or significant contributions to the broader culinary field.

Why this is useful

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

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The personal recognitions in the letters did not show recognition for achievements or significant contributions to the broader culinary field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_05_B5203; source_row=36925
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years full-time experience in the occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

Letters did not document whether experience was full- or part-time, contained dates that overlapped or were inconsistent with the Petitioner's resume and business plan, and the record did not establish self-employment.

Why this is useful

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

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Letters did not document whether experience was full- or part-time, contained dates that overlapped or were inconsistent with the Petitioner's resume and business plan, and the record did not establish self-employment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_05_B5203; source_row=36921
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice or certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner did not submit a copy of the claimed license document, and the record contains no evidence of a license or certification.

Why this is useful

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

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Petitioner did not submit a copy of the claimed license document, and the record contains no evidence of a license or certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_05_B5203; source_row=36922
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

What the decision said

AAO deemed the criterion waived because Petitioner conceded on appeal that no evidence was submitted.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO deemed the criterion waived because Petitioner conceded on appeal that no evidence was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_05_B5203; source_row=36924
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 the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong, reserving it as unnecessary because the first-prong failure is 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 explicitly declined to reach the third prong, reserving it as unnecessary because the first-prong failure is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_04_B5203; source_row=36920
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding that the Petitioner's evidence of skills, past achievements, and general data about the value of financial advisers does not demonstrate that his specific endeavor would broadly impact the economy at a regional or national level.…

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 adopted and affirmed the Director's analysis, finding that the Petitioner's evidence of skills, past achievements, and general data about the value of financial advisers does not demonstrate that his specific endeavor would broadly impact the economy at a regional or national level. Evidence of personal qualifications is relevant to the second prong, not the first, and the Petitioner failed to show that his endeavor's impact would extend beyond his specific clients or employers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_04_B5203; source_row=36918
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong, reserving it as unnecessary because the first-prong failure is 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 declined to reach the second prong, reserving it as unnecessary because the first-prong failure is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_04_B5203; source_row=36919
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits determination because the step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in aggregate that the record does not show the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reserved the final merits determination because the step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in aggregate that the record does not show the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-11_01_B2203; source_row=36910
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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