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 5931–5940

NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO did not substantively evaluate this prong, instead remanding due to the Acting Director's failure to adequately explain the denial. The Acting Director found substantial merit but not national importance, without applying the relevant factors to the evidence.

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 did not substantively evaluate this prong, instead remanding due to the Acting Director's failure to adequately explain the denial. The Acting Director found substantial merit but not national importance, without applying the relevant factors to the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_08_B5203; source_row=35842
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the director and AAO agreed the petitioner's proposed endeavor of developing strategies to control and eliminate neglected infectious diseases satisfies the first 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 the director and AAO agreed the petitioner's proposed endeavor of developing strategies to control and eliminate neglected infectious diseases satisfies the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_09_B5203; source_row=35845
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner well-positioned based on his curriculum vitae, academic records, published works, peer review activity, citation evidence, and expert reference letters describing his expertise and past record of success.

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 petitioner well-positioned based on his curriculum vitae, academic records, published works, peer review activity, citation evidence, and expert reference letters describing his expertise and past record of success.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_09_B5203; source_row=35846
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated 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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner's doctoral and master's degrees, considerable experience, widespread benefits of his infectious disease research, and track record of publishing influential research findings collectively demonstrated that his contributions would 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 found the petitioner's doctoral and master's degrees, considerable experience, widespread benefits of his infectious disease research, and track record of publishing influential research findings collectively demonstrated that his contributions would benefit the United States even assuming other qualified U.S. workers are available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_09_B5203; source_row=35847
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the second prong as unnecessary to reach given that the first prong 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 explicitly reserved the second prong as unnecessary to reach given that the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_05_B5203; source_row=35834
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the third prong as unnecessary to reach given that the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.

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 the third prong as unnecessary to reach given that the first prong was dispositive of the appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_05_B5203; source_row=35835
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO found the Acting Director's conclusion was erroneous on its face because documentary evidence supporting prong 3 was plainly present in the record, including an NIH grant of over $1.8 million and independent advisory opinions. The Acting Director listed relevant factors but failed to apply any of them to the Petitioner's evidence.

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 found the Acting Director's conclusion was erroneous on its face because documentary evidence supporting prong 3 was plainly present in the record, including an NIH grant of over $1.8 million and independent advisory opinions. The Acting Director listed relevant factors but failed to apply any of them to the Petitioner's evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_03_B5203; source_row=35829
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the director's finding that the first prong was met; it was not in dispute on appeal.

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 did not disturb the director's finding that the first prong was met; it was not in dispute on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_03_B5203; source_row=35827
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO found the Acting Director's denial of prong 2 was conclusory — stating the research was not influential without analyzing any specific evidence — and therefore remanded for a proper analysis rather than reaching a substantive conclusion itself.

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 Acting Director's denial of prong 2 was conclusory — stating the research was not influential without analyzing any specific evidence — and therefore remanded for a proper analysis rather than reaching a substantive conclusion itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_03_B5203; source_row=35828
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner met the judging criterion; this criterion is not discussed further on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner met the judging criterion; this criterion is not discussed further on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-08_03_B2203; source_row=35824
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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