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 551560

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong, reserving it as unnecessary given the dispositive failure on the first prong.

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 declined to reach the third prong, reserving it as unnecessary given the dispositive failure on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_11_B5203; source_row=44455
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 the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not reach prong 3, as the prong 1 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 did not reach prong 3, as the prong 1 failure was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_10_B5203; source_row=44452
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 declined to address whether the Director correctly found the Petitioner is well positioned to advance her endeavor, as the prong 1 failure was dispositive of the appeal.

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 declined to address whether the Director correctly found the Petitioner is well positioned to advance her endeavor, as the prong 1 failure was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_10_B5203; source_row=44451
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record demonstrates the petitioner's education, skills, knowledge, record of success in related efforts, a detailed plan for future activities, progress toward the proposed endeavor, and interest from other researchers, funders, and companies. AAO withdrew SCOPS's contrary determination.

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 record demonstrates the petitioner's education, skills, knowledge, record of success in related efforts, a detailed plan for future activities, progress toward the proposed endeavor, and interest from other researchers, funders, and companies. AAO withdrew SCOPS's contrary determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_05_B5203; source_row=44443
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both SCOPS and AAO agreed that the proposed endeavor—developing sustainable and advanced construction materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—has substantial merit and national importance. AAO did not separately re-analyze this prong.

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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Both SCOPS and AAO agreed that the proposed endeavor—developing sustainable and advanced construction materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—has substantial merit and national importance. AAO did not separately re-analyze this prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_05_B5203; source_row=44442
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

motion to reconsider - error of law or policy

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner did not identify any error of law or policy in AAO's most recent decision. Her arguments either misstated AAO's prior holdings (e.g., claiming AAO reversed a substantial-merit finding it never addressed), raised an unsupported ineffective-assistance claim under Lozada directed at SCOPS rather than AAO's most recent decision, or repeated prior disagreements with the national-importance determination.

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 identify any error of law or policy in AAO's most recent decision. Her arguments either misstated AAO's prior holdings (e.g., claiming AAO reversed a substantial-merit finding it never addressed), raised an unsupported ineffective-assistance claim under Lozada directed at SCOPS rather than AAO's most recent decision, or repeated prior disagreements with the national-importance determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_06_B5203; source_row=44446
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

motion to reopen - new facts

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner relied on post-filing achievements and an expanded scope of endeavor, neither of which qualifies as new facts that existed at the time of filing.

Why this is useful

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

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Petitioner relied on post-filing achievements and an expanded scope of endeavor, neither of which qualifies as new facts that existed at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_06_B5203; source_row=44445
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

The new business plan contains economic projections that remain uncorroborated, and the Petitioner has not demonstrated how the proposed consulting and training services would have broader implications for the trucking and automotive industries or reach the level of 'substantial positive economic effects' contemplated by 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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The new business plan contains economic projections that remain uncorroborated, and the Petitioner has not demonstrated how the proposed consulting and training services would have broader implications for the trucking and automotive industries or reach the level of 'substantial positive economic effects' contemplated by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_03_B5203; source_row=44438
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The accountant's declaration is unsubstantiated and the meaning of 'withdrawals' is unclear, and the Salario BR data covers a different position and time period and is not a proper basis for comparison.

Why this is useful

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

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The accountant's declaration is unsubstantiated and the meaning of 'withdrawals' is unclear, and the Salario BR data covers a different position and time period and is not a proper basis for comparison.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_12_B5203; source_row=44459
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach this criterion because the Petitioner had not met any of A-E and therefore could not reach three of six regardless.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to reach this criterion because the Petitioner had not met any of A-E and therefore could not reach three of six regardless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_12_B5203; source_row=44461
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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