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 9221–9230

NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience (employer letters)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Even considering the additional letters the Acting Director overlooked, the documented experience totals less than ten years, only one letter states full-time employment, and overlapping dates create unresolved inconsistencies.

Why this is useful

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Even considering the additional letters the Acting Director overlooked, the documented experience totals less than ten years, only one letter states full-time employment, and overlapping dates create unresolved inconsistencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-17_02_B5203; source_row=30766
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record (degree relating to area of exceptional ability)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the diplomas were not shown to relate to the claimed area of exceptional ability and no academic transcripts or supporting evidence were submitted on appeal.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed that the diplomas were not shown to relate to the claimed area of exceptional ability and no academic transcripts or supporting evidence were submitted on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-17_02_B5203; source_row=30765
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Economics

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional via baccalaureate plus five years progressive experience in the specialty

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed that without an identified specialty, the record cannot establish whether the Petitioner's post-baccalaureate experience meets the regulatory requirement. The Petitioner's pivot to the trucking company introduced impermissible new facts post-filing, and his original healthcare-products endeavor was never adequately defined.

Why this is useful

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AAO affirmed that without an identified specialty, the record cannot establish whether the Petitioner's post-baccalaureate experience meets the regulatory requirement. The Petitioner's pivot to the trucking company introduced impermissible new facts post-filing, and his original healthcare-products endeavor was never adequately defined.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-17_01_B5203; source_row=30761
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

Articles discussing the Petitioner and his property did not mention the two companies, and therefore did not demonstrate their distinguished reputations. Post-petition press releases and articles could not establish eligibility. The limited information in business journal coverage was insufficient to show a distinguished reputation.

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Articles discussing the Petitioner and his property did not mention the two companies, and therefore did not demonstrate their distinguished reputations. Post-petition press releases and articles could not establish eligibility. The limited information in business journal coverage was insufficient to show a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_01_B2203; source_row=30753
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The documentation for the primary organization did not show that membership requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. The second membership post-dated the petition filing and therefore could not be used to establish eligibility.

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The documentation for the primary organization did not show that membership requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. The second membership post-dated the petition filing and therefore could not be used to establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_01_B2203; source_row=30749
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The award's coverage was limited to a few community-oriented newspapers, and there was no evidence demonstrating national or international recognition of the award in the field. The award also appeared limited to a specific demographic group, undermining its standing as a field-wide recognition.

Why this is useful

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

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The award's coverage was limited to a few community-oriented newspapers, and there was no evidence demonstrating national or international recognition of the award in the field. The award also appeared limited to a specific demographic group, undermining its standing as a field-wide recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_01_B2203; source_row=30748
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not point to specific evidence in the record and the phrase 'a judge' implies a formal designation in a judging capacity. Performing managerial responsibilities does not constitute participation as a judge of the work of others.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not point to specific evidence in the record and the phrase 'a judge' implies a formal designation in a judging capacity. Performing managerial responsibilities does not constitute participation as a judge of the work of others.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_01_B2203; source_row=30751
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the Petitioner's patient care and teaching activities, while meritorious, lacked demonstrated national importance. Recommendation letters praised her individual skills but did not show broader impact. Reliance on the general nursing shortage was insufficient without evidence of how her specific work would resolve or materially impact that shortage.

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 AAO agreed that the Petitioner's patient care and teaching activities, while meritorious, lacked demonstrated national importance. Recommendation letters praised her individual skills but did not show broader impact. Reliance on the general nursing shortage was insufficient without evidence of how her specific work would resolve or materially impact that shortage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_01_B5203; source_row=30755
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner satisfied the published material criterion; this was the only criterion the Director found met.

Why this is useful

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Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner satisfied the published material criterion; this was the only criterion the Director found met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_01_B2203; source_row=30750
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 – sustained national or international acclaim

What the decision said

AAO reserved this issue because the step-one threshold was not met, but noted in an advisory comment that the record as a whole does not support a finding of the required acclaim and recognition.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved this issue because the step-one threshold was not met, but noted in an advisory comment that the record as a whole does not support a finding of the required acclaim and recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_01_B2203; source_row=30754
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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