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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 5851–5860

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the employment letters were insufficient because they failed to specify full-time or part-time status, and there was an unexplained overlapping period of employment at two companies from March 2012 to September 2016, preventing reliable verification of five years of progressive experience.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the employment letters were insufficient because they failed to specify full-time or part-time status, and there was an unexplained overlapping period of employment at two companies from March 2012 to September 2016, preventing reliable verification of five years of progressive experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_04_B5203; source_row=35959
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the endeavor lacks national importance because the evidence does not show the Petitioner's specific endeavor will have national/global implications or substantial economic effects beyond his own clients.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the endeavor lacks national importance because the evidence does not show the Petitioner's specific endeavor will have national/global implications or substantial economic effects beyond his own clients.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_02_B5203; source_row=35951
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 noted that the Petitioner's letters of support and qualifications relate to the second prong but did not evaluate it because 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 noted that the Petitioner's letters of support and qualifications relate to the second prong but did not evaluate it because the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_07_B5203; source_row=35968
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found it impossible to evaluate whether the Petitioner was well-positioned because the proposed endeavor was inconsistently expressed across proceedings. The letters of support spoke favorably of the Petitioner but did not demonstrate persisting interest or support in the proposed endeavor, and it remained unclear how the Petitioner would execute the endeavor.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
AAO found it impossible to evaluate whether the Petitioner was well-positioned because the proposed endeavor was inconsistently expressed across proceedings. The letters of support spoke favorably of the Petitioner but did not demonstrate persisting interest or support in the proposed endeavor, and it remained unclear how the Petitioner would execute the endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_01_B5203; source_row=35949
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

EB-2 advanced degree qualification

What the decision said

AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion because a baccalaureate degree alone does not meet the definition of an advanced degree, but reserved the ultimate eligibility determination because the NIW waiver analysis is dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO withdrew the Director's conclusion because a baccalaureate degree alone does not meet the definition of an advanced degree, but reserved the ultimate eligibility determination because the NIW waiver analysis is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_03_B5203; source_row=35955
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 explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong as unnecessary given the dispositive failures on prongs one and two.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved judgment on the third prong as unnecessary given the dispositive failures on prongs one and two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_03_B5203; source_row=35958
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

The AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the initial evidence requirement, but noted in an advisory capacity that the record does not support the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the initial evidence requirement, but noted in an advisory capacity that the record does not support the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_01_B2203; source_row=35947
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Valid signature on petition forms

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the signature was deficient because USCIS policy requires that any photocopy submitted be of an original document bearing an original handwritten signature. The Petitioner's method of scanning a signature from a separate piece of paper and electronically inserting it into the forms does not meet this requirement, even if the original signature itself was handwritten.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed the signature was deficient because USCIS policy requires that any photocopy submitted be of an original document bearing an original handwritten signature. The Petitioner's method of scanning a signature from a separate piece of paper and electronically inserting it into the forms does not meet this requirement, even if the original signature itself was handwritten.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_06_B5203; source_row=35966
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved opinion on whether the record satisfies the third prong, having found the first prong dispositive.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly reserved opinion on whether the record satisfies the third prong, having found the first prong dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_04_B5203; source_row=35962
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 explicitly reserved opinion on whether the record satisfies the second prong, having found the first prong 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 explicitly reserved opinion on whether the record satisfies the second prong, having found the first prong dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-15_04_B5203; source_row=35961
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment