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 5581–5590

NIWEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination (exceptional ability)

What the decision said

AAO reserved the final merits analysis as unnecessary because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of at least three evidentiary criteria, though noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support exceptional ability.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved the final merits analysis as unnecessary because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of at least three evidentiary criteria, though noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_10_B5203; source_row=36400
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the record did not include evidence that the certificate-issuing parties were colleges, universities, schools, or other institutions of learning, and the certificates were not shown to be official academic records.

Why this is useful

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the record did not include evidence that the certificate-issuing parties were colleges, universities, schools, or other institutions of learning, and the certificates were not shown to be official academic records.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_10_B5203; source_row=36395
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

The alleged additional letter was not found in the record. The letters in the record, from business clients attesting to the Petitioner as a competent soybean producer, confirm experience but do not demonstrate recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry.

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The alleged additional letter was not found in the record. The letters in the record, from business clients attesting to the Petitioner as a competent soybean producer, confirm experience but do not demonstrate recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_10_B5203; source_row=36399
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The self-authored letter did not indicate full-time work and was uncorroborated; the investor letter did not show full-time employment or job duties; promised additional evidence was never submitted; and letters of recommendation were not from employers as required by the criterion.

Why this is useful

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The self-authored letter did not indicate full-time work and was uncorroborated; the investor letter did not show full-time employment or job duties; promised additional evidence was never submitted; and letters of recommendation were not from employers as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_10_B5203; source_row=36396
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

FinanceManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. AAO nonetheless observed in dicta that the record does not support a finding of sustained national or international acclaim.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three criteria, citing INS v. Bagamasbad. AAO nonetheless observed in dicta that the record does not support a finding of sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B2203; source_row=36370
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

FinanceManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner documented her participation as an expert reviewer on the Senior Certified Accountant Qualification Committee and provided sufficient supporting evidence to satisfy the plain language of the criterion.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner documented her participation as an expert reviewer on the Senior Certified Accountant Qualification Committee and provided sufficient supporting evidence to satisfy the plain language of the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B2203; source_row=36366
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

FinanceManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The record demonstrates that the Petitioner co-authored scholarly articles published in professional journals in her field.

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The record demonstrates that the Petitioner co-authored scholarly articles published in professional journals in her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B2203; source_row=36368
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 limited its review on motion to the basis of its prior adverse decision (national importance under prong one) and did not separately address prong two.

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 limited its review on motion to the basis of its prior adverse decision (national importance under prong one) and did not separately address prong two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B5203; source_row=36372
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 proposed endeavor would primarily benefit the Petitioner's own gym and its students rather than having a broader impact on the industry or national health and fitness field, and that no sufficient evidence of economic or employment impact at a national level was presented.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that the proposed endeavor would primarily benefit the Petitioner's own gym and its students rather than having a broader impact on the industry or national health and fitness field, and that no sufficient evidence of economic or employment impact at a national level was presented.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B5203; source_row=36371
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 waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO limited its review on motion to the basis of its prior adverse decision (national importance under prong one) and did not separately address prong three.

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 limited its review on motion to the basis of its prior adverse decision (national importance under prong one) and did not separately address prong three.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-14_02_B5203; source_row=36373
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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