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 581590

EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

Major, internationally recognized award

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner provided only assertion and limited evidence about the global recognition of the prizes. She did not supply evidence of international media coverage, and the letters submitted did not explain how the prizes constitute top awards with global recognition. Website screenshots were general and lacked sufficient detail about the prizes and their recognition.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner provided only assertion and limited evidence about the global recognition of the prizes. She did not supply evidence of international media coverage, and the letters submitted did not explain how the prizes constitute top awards with global recognition. Website screenshots were general and lacked sufficient detail about the prizes and their recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_01_B2203; source_row=44362
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with SCOPS that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance.

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 SCOPS that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_05_B5203; source_row=44410
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew SCOPS' conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's education, expertise, published articles, citation evidence, record of success in research projects, and progress in the field demonstrated he is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.

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 withdrew SCOPS' conclusion, finding that the Petitioner's education, expertise, published articles, citation evidence, record of success in research projects, and progress in the field demonstrated he is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_05_B5203; source_row=44411
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew SCOPS' adverse finding, concluding that the Petitioner's track record of successful research and the significance of his proposed work to advance U.S. public health interests demonstrated that his contributions are of sufficient value to benefit the United States even assuming other qualified U.S. workers are available.

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 withdrew SCOPS' adverse finding, concluding that the Petitioner's track record of successful research and the significance of his proposed work to advance U.S. public health interests demonstrated that his contributions are of sufficient value to benefit the United States even assuming other qualified U.S. workers are available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_05_B5203; source_row=44412
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

license to practice the profession

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met the license criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met the license criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_07_B5203; source_row=44417
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

official academic records

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met the official academic records criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner met the official academic records criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_07_B5203; source_row=44416
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 withdrew the Director's finding that this criterion was met. The Petitioner's Professional Identity Card listed him as a Telecommunications Technician registered with certain bodies, but the referenced Decree No. 23.569 covered engineers, architects, and surveyors — not telecommunications technicians. The Petitioner failed to explain the relationship between the two bodies or show the equivalent of a U.S.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding that this criterion was met. The Petitioner's Professional Identity Card listed him as a Telecommunications Technician registered with certain bodies, but the referenced Decree No. 23.569 covered engineers, architects, and surveyors — not telecommunications technicians. The Petitioner failed to explain the relationship between the two bodies or show the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in the occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_07_B5203; source_row=44418
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes

What the decision said

AAO did not separately resolve this criterion; the matter was remanded for a new decision and AAO expressed no opinion on the ultimate resolution.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO did not separately resolve this criterion; the matter was remanded for a new decision and AAO expressed no opinion on the ultimate resolution.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_03_B2203; source_row=44378
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO declined to consider this newly raised criterion because the Petitioner did not assert eligibility at the initial filing or in response to the RFE, citing Matter of Furtado.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO declined to consider this newly raised criterion because the Petitioner did not assert eligibility at the initial filing or in response to the RFE, citing Matter of Furtado.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_03_B2203; source_row=44381
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO found SCOPS' failure to analyze this criterion warranted remand because it deprived the Petitioner of a fair opportunity to contest the decision.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found SCOPS' failure to analyze this criterion warranted remand because it deprived the Petitioner of a fair opportunity to contest the decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-28_03_B2203; source_row=44382
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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