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 9231–9240

EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the merits of this criterion but found the Director's analysis conclusory and based on factual errors, including references to evidence not in the record. AAO remanded for the Director to re-evaluate the evidence with specificity.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO did not reach the merits of this criterion but found the Director's analysis conclusory and based on factual errors, including references to evidence not in the record. AAO remanded for the Director to re-evaluate the evidence with specificity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_02_B2203; source_row=30759
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied this criterion based on her peer review of manuscripts submitted to journals for publication.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied this criterion based on her peer review of manuscripts submitted to journals for publication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_02_B2203; source_row=30758
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO confirmed the Petitioner satisfied this criterion based on her publications in journals such as Nature Communications and the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences, despite the Director's factual errors in identifying specific journals.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO confirmed the Petitioner satisfied this criterion based on her publications in journals such as Nature Communications and the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences, despite the Director's factual errors in identifying specific journals.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-12_02_B2203; source_row=30760
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's master's degree, while an especially positive factor, was not alone sufficient; his publications, citation record, peer review activity, recommendation letters, and contingent/temporary employment did not collectively demonstrate that he is well positioned to advance his proposed research.…

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 agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's master's degree, while an especially positive factor, was not alone sufficient; his publications, citation record, peer review activity, recommendation letters, and contingent/temporary employment did not collectively demonstrate that he is well positioned to advance his proposed research. His work has not served as an impetus for progress in the field nor generated substantial positive discourse constituting a record of success.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-11_05_B5203; source_row=30746
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent (five years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Diploma of Licentiate equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree, requiring five years of progressive experience. One key employment letter lacked a date, letterhead, and any indication of the writer's authority, rendering it unreliable. The remaining letters, taken together, covered less than five years in aggregate.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the Diploma of Licentiate equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree, requiring five years of progressive experience. One key employment letter lacked a date, letterhead, and any indication of the writer's authority, rendering it unreliable. The remaining letters, taken together, covered less than five years in aggregate.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-11_02_B5203; source_row=30735
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. Industry-level evidence is insufficient; the focus must be on the specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner lacked detail on scale, number of projects, job creation estimates, and did not substantiate claims of innovation or uniqueness, nor their broader field impact.

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 that the Petitioner failed to establish national importance. Industry-level evidence is insufficient; the focus must be on the specific proposed endeavor. The Petitioner lacked detail on scale, number of projects, job creation estimates, and did not substantiate claims of innovation or uniqueness, nor their broader field impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-11_02_B5203; source_row=30736
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 AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The evidence addressed the importance of the aviation industry and the pilot shortage generally, but not the specific national-scale impact of the Petitioner's own proposed endeavor. The advisory opinion and recommendation letters lacked independent analysis of the proposed endeavor's 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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The AAO agreed the endeavor had substantial merit but found the Petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The evidence addressed the importance of the aviation industry and the pilot shortage generally, but not the specific national-scale impact of the Petitioner's own proposed endeavor. The advisory opinion and recommendation letters lacked independent analysis of the proposed endeavor's national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-11_03_B5203; source_row=30739
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 articles and reports show a pilot shortage but do not address the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The advisory opinion merely recites the Petitioner's credentials and prior resources without independent analysis of national importance. Recommendation letters do not show impact beyond specific employers. The Petitioner conflates the importance of the aviation field with the importance of his specific 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 articles and reports show a pilot shortage but do not address the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor. The advisory opinion merely recites the Petitioner's credentials and prior resources without independent analysis of national importance. Recommendation letters do not show impact beyond specific employers. The Petitioner conflates the importance of the aviation field with the importance of his specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-11_04_B5203; source_row=30742
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's initial proposed endeavor lacked sufficient evidence of national importance, and her NOID response constituted an impermissible material change. Even treating the new endeavor as properly before the AAO, the business plan's vague references to the Biden infrastructure plan, unsupported income and job-creation projections, and failure to show broader implications beyond the company and its clients were insuf…

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's initial proposed endeavor lacked sufficient evidence of national importance, and her NOID response constituted an impermissible material change. Even treating the new endeavor as properly before the AAO, the business plan's vague references to the Biden infrastructure plan, unsupported income and job-creation projections, and failure to show broader implications beyond the company and its clients were insufficient to establish national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-11_01_B5203; source_row=30732
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringMaster’s

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 proposed endeavor has 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.

View full reasoning +
AAO did not disturb the Director's finding that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-11_05_B5203; source_row=30745
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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