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 5291–5300

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the second prong, finding it unnecessary given the dispositive failure under the first prong.

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, finding it unnecessary given the dispositive failure under the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_07_B5203; source_row=36875
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on the judging criterion on appeal; AAO deemed the issue waived.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on the judging criterion on appeal; AAO deemed the issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_01_B2203; source_row=36838
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 — sustained national or international acclaim

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner could not meet the threshold of three criteria. AAO nonetheless noted the overall record fails to 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 Petitioner could not meet the threshold of three criteria. AAO nonetheless noted the overall record fails to show the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_01_B2203; source_row=36843
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Abandonment of material change issue

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO had previously agreed with the Director that the amendment was a prohibited material change under Matter of Izummi, and found the Petitioner waived or abandoned the issue on appeal by failing to address it. In the motions, the Petitioner again did not address the material change issue, making a favorable outcome impossible regardless of the merits of other arguments.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO had previously agreed with the Director that the amendment was a prohibited material change under Matter of Izummi, and found the Petitioner waived or abandoned the issue on appeal by failing to address it. In the motions, the Petitioner again did not address the material change issue, making a favorable outcome impossible regardless of the merits of other arguments.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_02_B5203; source_row=36856
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

FinanceBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner demonstrated authorship of scholarly articles in her field.

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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Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner demonstrated authorship of scholarly articles in her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_02_B2203; source_row=36847
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

FinanceBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

intent to continue working in the field in the United States

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's finding on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived and affirmed denial on this ground.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's finding on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived and affirmed denial on this ground.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_02_B2203; source_row=36855
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not address the second prong because the first prong was not met.

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 because the first prong was not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_05_B5203; source_row=36869
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 the remaining Dhanasar prong because the prong-one failure 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 the remaining Dhanasar prong because the prong-one failure was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_06_B5203; source_row=36873
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 expressly reserved this prong, noting that resolution of national importance 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 expressly reserved this prong, noting that resolution of national importance was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-08_06_B5203; source_row=36872
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 had not shown the proposed endeavor has national importance. While acknowledging substantial merit, AAO found that the record lacked evidence of broader impact on the field nationally, that RIMS II statistics were too broad to confirm national importance for the specific endeavor, and that job creation evidence was insufficient.…

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 agreed that the Petitioner had not shown the proposed endeavor has national importance. While acknowledging substantial merit, AAO found that the record lacked evidence of broader impact on the field nationally, that RIMS II statistics were too broad to confirm national importance for the specific endeavor, and that job creation evidence was insufficient. AAO also distinguished the importance of the SME/import-export industry generally from the national importance of the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-04-05_02_B5203; source_row=36826
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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