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 5531–5540

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

AAO expressly declined to reach prong three because the failure of 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 expressly declined to reach prong three because the failure of prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_09_B5203; source_row=36482
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO expressly declined to reach prong two because the failure of 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 expressly declined to reach prong two because the failure of prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_09_B5203; source_row=36481
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's conclusions on this prong to be internally contradictory and therefore did not offer a clear finding, remanding for a proper analysis.

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 found the Director's conclusions on this prong to be internally contradictory and therefore did not offer a clear finding, remanding for a proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_03_B5203; source_row=36463
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not substantively address the third prong, remanding the entire NIW analysis for a new decision.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO did not substantively address the third prong, remanding the entire NIW analysis for a new decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_03_B5203; source_row=36464
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Exceptional ability qualification

What the decision said

AAO noted the Director made no determination on exceptional ability and instructed the Director to address it on remand.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO noted the Director made no determination on exceptional ability and instructed the Director to address it on remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_03_B5203; source_row=36461
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 reserved the second prong because the failure on the first prong was 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 the second prong because the failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_06_B5203; source_row=36472
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's marketing consultancy would not impact the field beyond its prospective clients, did not introduce novel methodologies, and had unsupported financial and job-creation projections insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects.

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's marketing consultancy would not impact the field beyond its prospective clients, did not introduce novel methodologies, and had unsupported financial and job-creation projections insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_06_B5203; source_row=36471
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew the Director's determination, finding that the Petitioner demonstrated both substantial merit and national importance through evidence of AI/ML research, letters of support, government initiative documentation, and dissemination of results through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

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 withdrew the Director's determination, finding that the Petitioner demonstrated both substantial merit and national importance through evidence of AI/ML research, letters of support, government initiative documentation, and dissemination of results through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_02_B5203; source_row=36457
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's experience, published work, citation evidence, patent applications, and expert letters collectively demonstrated that he is well-positioned to advance his proposed research in ML.

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 withdrew the Director's conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's experience, published work, citation evidence, patent applications, and expert letters collectively demonstrated that he is well-positioned to advance his proposed research in ML.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_02_B5203; source_row=36458
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew the Director's determination, concluding that the Petitioner's track record of successful research and the significance of his proposed work to advance U.S. technological interests demonstrate contributions of such value that, on balance, they benefit the United States even assuming other qualified U.S. workers are available.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO withdrew the Director's determination, concluding that the Petitioner's track record of successful research and the significance of his proposed work to advance U.S. technological interests demonstrate contributions of such value that, on balance, they benefit the United States even assuming other qualified U.S. workers are available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_02_B5203; source_row=36459
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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