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 7101–7110

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the emails only showed a reminder to complete judging and the Petitioner's stated intention to complete the task, but did not demonstrate that she actually participated in judging. No corroborating documentation showed how many or which campaigns she reviewed.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the emails only showed a reminder to complete judging and the Petitioner's stated intention to complete the task, but did not demonstrate that she actually participated in judging. No corroborating documentation showed how many or which campaigns she reviewed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_01_B2203; source_row=34011
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters of support were conclusory and did not describe specific original contributions impacting the broader field. Citation evidence showed the Petitioner's work was used as background information rather than singled out as particularly important, and one publication showed zero citations on Google Scholar.

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 of support were conclusory and did not describe specific original contributions impacting the broader field. Citation evidence showed the Petitioner's work was used as background information rather than singled out as particularly important, and one publication showed zero citations on Google Scholar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_01_B2203; source_row=34012
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner offered only vague statements about providing healthcare services without specific plans demonstrating how his work would impact U.S. interests or the healthcare industry at a national level. Reference letters praised his skills but did not adequately detail the national importance of his specific proposed endeavor.

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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The Petitioner offered only vague statements about providing healthcare services without specific plans demonstrating how his work would impact U.S. interests or the healthcare industry at a national level. Reference letters praised his skills but did not adequately detail the national importance of his specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_02_B5203; source_row=34019
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's analysis deficient because it mischaracterized the record (the Petitioner did provide evidence of customer and investor interest and job creation), applied analysis more applicable to prongs one and two, and failed to consider the Petitioner's self-employment argument.

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 Director's analysis deficient because it mischaracterized the record (the Petitioner did provide evidence of customer and investor interest and job creation), applied analysis more applicable to prongs one and two, and failed to consider the Petitioner's self-employment argument.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_01_B5203; source_row=34018
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's analysis inadequate because the Director failed to engage with the actual supporting documentation referenced in counsel's letters and did not explain why the submitted evidence was insufficient. AAO did not itself reach a conclusion on whether the prong was met.

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 the Director's analysis inadequate because the Director failed to engage with the actual supporting documentation referenced in counsel's letters and did not explain why the submitted evidence was insufficient. AAO did not itself reach a conclusion on whether the prong was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_01_B5203; source_row=34016
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted the Director found this prong met but expressed no opinion on the ultimate resolution on remand.

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 noted the Director found this prong met but expressed no opinion on the ultimate resolution on remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_01_B5203; source_row=34017
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_01_B2203; source_row=34013
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 declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner's failure to satisfy prongs one and two rendered further analysis unnecessary.

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 explicitly declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner's failure to satisfy prongs one and two rendered further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_02_B5203; source_row=34021
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the Petitioner failed to sufficiently define his specific proposed endeavor, AAO could not evaluate whether he was well-positioned to advance it, and found he did not meet prong two for the same underlying reason as prong one.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Because the Petitioner failed to sufficiently define his specific proposed endeavor, AAO could not evaluate whether he was well-positioned to advance it, and found he did not meet prong two for the same underlying reason as prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-11_02_B5203; source_row=34020
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

The Petitioner described only broad areas of interest and expertise without specifying her proposed endeavor or explaining how she would pursue it. Her vague references to enacting trade policy, shaping corporate law, and volunteering for women's rights did not constitute a specific endeavor with 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.

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner described only broad areas of interest and expertise without specifying her proposed endeavor or explaining how she would pursue it. Her vague references to enacting trade policy, shaping corporate law, and volunteering for women's rights did not constitute a specific endeavor with national importance. Labor shortages in professional services do not render her work nationally important, and a post-filing job offer as a financial analyst cannot retroactively establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-10-10_02_B5203; source_row=33989
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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