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 561570

NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification for the profession

Why AAO was not persuaded

Neither document is a license or certification for a particular profession; the Labor and Social Security Card is an employment record not specific to any occupation.

Why this is useful

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

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Neither document is a license or certification for a particular profession; the Labor and Social Security Card is an employment record not specific to any occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_12_B5203; source_row=44458
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record relating to area of exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The high school diploma reflects a general high school education and does not relate to the claimed area of exceptional ability in business and marketing.

Why this is useful

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

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The high school diploma reflects a general high school education and does not relate to the claimed area of exceptional ability in business and marketing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_12_B5203; source_row=44456
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters made only broad references to 'advanced methods' and 'expertise' without describing how the methods were advanced or original; the Petitioner did not identify specific errors in AAO's evidentiary analysis or clarify references to 'independent sources.'

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO found the letters made only broad references to 'advanced methods' and 'expertise' without describing how the methods were advanced or original; the Petitioner did not identify specific errors in AAO's evidentiary analysis or clarify references to 'independent sources.'
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_03_B2203; source_row=44435
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 this prong in the current motion decision, as the motion was limited to the first prong dispute.

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 this prong in the current motion decision, as the motion was limited to the first prong dispute.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-29_07_B5203; source_row=44448
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

Even reviewing all evidence in the aggregate, AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the construction industry. Expert opinion and recommendation letters lacked sufficient discussion of how his expertise surpassed others in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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Even reviewing all evidence in the aggregate, AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the construction industry. Expert opinion and recommendation letters lacked sufficient discussion of how his expertise surpassed others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_07_B5203; source_row=44419
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 found substantial merit established but national importance not established. The Petitioner's claims were vague, conclusory, focused on the oil and gas industry rather than her specific endeavor, and unsupported by detail or projections (with only a $14,000 investment).

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 substantial merit established but national importance not established. The Petitioner's claims were vague, conclusory, focused on the oil and gas industry rather than her specific endeavor, and unsupported by detail or projections (with only a $14,000 investment).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_02_B5203; source_row=44375
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other37 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

Well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner had conducted, published, and presented research, he had not shown that this work served as an impetus for progress in cardio-oncology, affected diagnostic or treatment protocols, or generated substantial positive discourse. High journal impact factors reflect a publication's overall citation rate, not an individual author's influence.…

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 that while the Petitioner had conducted, published, and presented research, he had not shown that this work served as an impetus for progress in cardio-oncology, affected diagnostic or treatment protocols, or generated substantial positive discourse. High journal impact factors reflect a publication's overall citation rate, not an individual author's influence. The citation letters did not sufficiently explain how the Petitioner's specific research factored into other publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_03_B5203; source_row=44387
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences265 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that while the endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The Petitioner did not explain how his research would achieve its claimed outcomes or produce broader implications for the country, relying instead on the general importance of law enforcement and human trafficking as a national concern rather than demonstrating the specific impact of his proposed w…

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 with the Director that while the endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show national importance. The Petitioner did not explain how his research would achieve its claimed outcomes or produce broader implications for the country, relying instead on the general importance of law enforcement and human trafficking as a national concern rather than demonstrating the specific impact of his proposed work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_06_B5203; source_row=44413
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found venture capital funding does not satisfy the plain language of the criterion. Unlike the Zizi case, the Petitioner did not show his personal involvement was the motivating factor for the investment, and the evidence lacked details on funding criteria, selection process, number of awardees, and national/international recognition for excellence in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found venture capital funding does not satisfy the plain language of the criterion. Unlike the Zizi case, the Petitioner did not show his personal involvement was the motivating factor for the investment, and the evidence lacked details on funding criteria, selection process, number of awardees, and national/international recognition for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_04_B2203; source_row=44389
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work in the field at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not corroborate that the work displayed was his hospitality technology work, and the conference was not open to the public but limited to specific industry attendees, failing to qualify as a public showcase.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not corroborate that the work displayed was his hospitality technology work, and the conference was not open to the public but limited to specific industry attendees, failing to qualify as a public showcase.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_04_B2203; source_row=44395
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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