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 761770

EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew SCOPS's finding that this criterion was satisfied. The submitted articles were not about the Petitioner as required, some articles lacked identified authors, and the Petitioner failed to establish the websites constituted major trade publications or other major media.

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AAO withdrew SCOPS's finding that this criterion was satisfied. The submitted articles were not about the Petitioner as required, some articles lacked identified authors, and the Petitioner failed to establish the websites constituted major trade publications or other major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B2203; source_row=44107
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted income tax records and a salary calculator report comparing his earnings to the mean salary for a 'Lawyer in Brazil,' but failed to use comparable data for law firm partners. The comparison data also was from a different year than the income reported.

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The Petitioner submitted income tax records and a salary calculator report comparing his earnings to the mean salary for a 'Lawyer in Brazil,' but failed to use comparable data for law firm partners. The comparison data also was from a different year than the income reported.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B2203; source_row=44111
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

SCOPS determined the Petitioner's coauthored article was not scholarly, and the Petitioner did not contest this on appeal. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that the publication platform was a professional publication or major media.

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SCOPS determined the Petitioner's coauthored article was not scholarly, and the Petitioner did not contest this on appeal. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that the publication platform was a professional publication or major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B2203; source_row=44109
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong 1 because prong 3 was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach prong 1 because prong 3 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_04_B5203; source_row=44120
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong 2 because prong 3 was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach prong 2 because prong 3 was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_04_B5203; source_row=44121
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

AAO found that the business plan contained extensive inconsistencies regarding the operating location (citing New York and Florida multipliers while claiming Pennsylvania operations) and material conflicts between the Form I-140 salary ($150,000) and job title ('logistics expert') versus the business plan ($85,000–$103,318 and 'chief executive officer'). These undermined the reliability of all financial projections.…

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AAO found that the business plan contained extensive inconsistencies regarding the operating location (citing New York and Florida multipliers while claiming Pennsylvania operations) and material conflicts between the Form I-140 salary ($150,000) and job title ('logistics expert') versus the business plan ($85,000–$103,318 and 'chief executive officer'). These undermined the reliability of all financial projections. Even setting aside reliability issues, the proposed logistics consulting services and app are duplicative of existing services and lack national or global implications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_03_B5203; source_row=44117
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 waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong because the finding on national importance under the first prong was dispositive.

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AAO declined to reach the third prong because the finding on national importance under the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B5203; source_row=44116
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the second prong because the finding on national importance under 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.

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AAO declined to reach the second prong because the finding on national importance under the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B5203; source_row=44115
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

AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated how his proposed safety app and consulting work would impact workplace safety at a national or global scale beyond his employer and its clients. The Petitioner failed to show his work was materially different from other similarly experienced employees in the field or that his job-creation claims had a national-level impact.

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AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated how his proposed safety app and consulting work would impact workplace safety at a national or global scale beyond his employer and its clients. The Petitioner failed to show his work was materially different from other similarly experienced employees in the field or that his job-creation claims had a national-level impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B5203; source_row=44114
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination for exceptional ability

What the decision said

AAO agreed the Director's decision lacked substantive analysis but declined to resolve this issue given that the NIW national importance finding was independently dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed the Director's decision lacked substantive analysis but declined to resolve this issue given that the NIW national importance finding was independently dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B5203; source_row=44113
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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