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 5781–5790

NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

recognition for achievements and significant contributions (k)(3)(ii)(F)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held the resubmitted letters mainly described contributions to specific employers and projects, not significant contributions to the industry or field, and did not constitute new facts.

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AAO held the resubmitted letters mainly described contributions to specific employers and projects, not significant contributions to the industry or field, and did not constitute new facts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_02_B5203; source_row=36079
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

salary demonstrating exceptional ability (k)(3)(ii)(D)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held the supplemental statement did not show the Petitioner's actual salary or that the IT salary report provided a sufficient basis for comparison to his occupation.

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AAO held the supplemental statement did not show the Petitioner's actual salary or that the IT salary report provided a sufficient basis for comparison to his occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_02_B5203; source_row=36077
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other54 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold criteria count, but noted in dicta the record does not support the required acclaim.

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AAO declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold criteria count, but noted in dicta the record does not support the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_01_B2203; source_row=36072
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other54 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion on appeal, so it is considered waived.

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The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion on appeal, so it is considered waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_01_B2203; source_row=36067
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other54 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner's role as an acceptance review expert for three national railway projects was sufficient to satisfy the judging criterion.

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AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner's role as an acceptance review expert for three national railway projects was sufficient to satisfy the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-27_01_B2203; source_row=36068
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agrees substantial merit is shown but the evidence — articles not specific to tax/accounting (some dated or based on Belgian enterprises), an undated report, a general expert opinion — does not establish prospective national or global implications of the Petitioner's specific endeavor.

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AAO agrees substantial merit is shown but the evidence — articles not specific to tax/accounting (some dated or based on Belgian enterprises), an undated report, a general expert opinion — does not establish prospective national or global implications of the Petitioner's specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-26_02_B5203; source_row=36064
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO maintained its prior finding that criterion (E) was not satisfied; the Petitioner did not address this criterion on motion.

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AAO maintained its prior finding that criterion (E) was not satisfied; the Petitioner did not address this criterion on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-26_01_B5203; source_row=36060
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

salary for services demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO maintained its prior finding that criterion (D) was not satisfied; the Petitioner did not address this criterion on motion.

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AAO maintained its prior finding that criterion (D) was not satisfied; the Petitioner did not address this criterion on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-26_01_B5203; source_row=36059
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

at least 10 years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the letter from one employer did not indicate the work was full-time, and the ETA 750 Part B self-attestation cannot substitute for the regulatory requirement of letters from current or former employers showing full-time experience. The Petitioner's ETA 750 Part B was already in the record at the time of filing, not new evidence.

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AAO found that the letter from one employer did not indicate the work was full-time, and the ETA 750 Part B self-attestation cannot substitute for the regulatory requirement of letters from current or former employers showing full-time experience. The Petitioner's ETA 750 Part B was already in the record at the time of filing, not new evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-26_01_B5203; source_row=36058
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO did not separately revisit prong 2; the Director had found it met and the appeal turned on prong 1.

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AAO did not separately revisit prong 2; the Director had found it met and the appeal turned on prong 1.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-26_02_B5203; source_row=36065
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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