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 931940

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 reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because the first-prong failure 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 reserved the second prong as unnecessary to the ultimate decision because the first-prong failure was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_06_B5203; source_row=43888
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the second prong because a new first-line adjudication of the first prong is required and meaningful review of the second prong is not possible at this time.

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 reserved judgment on the second prong because a new first-line adjudication of the first prong is required and meaningful review of the second prong is not possible at this time.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=43862
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO reserved judgment on the third prong because a new first-line adjudication of the first prong is required and meaningful review of the third prong is not possible at this time.

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 reserved judgment on the third prong because a new first-line adjudication of the first prong is required and meaningful review of the third prong is not possible at this time.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=43863
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO found the Director's analysis of national importance was conclusory, failed to meaningfully address the Petitioner's evidence, and incorrectly described the proposed endeavor by quoting from an employment letter about current work rather than the Petitioner's own description of his 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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AAO found the Director's analysis of national importance was conclusory, failed to meaningfully address the Petitioner's evidence, and incorrectly described the proposed endeavor by quoting from an employment letter about current work rather than the Petitioner's own description of his proposed endeavor. Because the first prong requires accurate description of the endeavor for meaningful analysis, AAO remanded for a new adjudication rather than reaching a substantive conclusion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=43861
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

What the decision said

Although the Petitioner claimed this criterion in the initial petition, he did not address it on appeal, so AAO deemed it waived.

Why this is useful

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

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Although the Petitioner claimed this criterion in the initial petition, he did not address it on appeal, so AAO deemed it waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_02_B2203; source_row=43868
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the endeavor

What the decision said

AAO reserved the second prong as unnecessary given the failure on prong one.

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 reserved the second prong as unnecessary given the failure on prong one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_02_B5203; source_row=43870
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's finding on appeal and stated in her RFE response that the original petition did not intend to demonstrate this criterion; AAO treated the issue as effectively waived.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's finding on appeal and stated in her RFE response that the original petition did not intend to demonstrate this criterion; AAO treated the issue as effectively waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B2203; source_row=43859
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

major, internationally recognized award

What the decision said

The Petitioner stated on appeal that she had withdrawn this claim, so AAO declined to review the Director's finding.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner stated on appeal that she had withdrawn this claim, so AAO declined to review the Director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B2203; source_row=43860
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew the Director's finding. The Director improperly imposed a publication-medium requirement not in the regulation, and a contemporaneous article in Iran's most widely circulated national sports newspaper showed national recognition of the Petitioner's award.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding. The Director improperly imposed a publication-medium requirement not in the regulation, and a contemporaneous article in Iran's most widely circulated national sports newspaper showed national recognition of the Petitioner's award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B2203; source_row=43856
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

other

substantial benefit to the United States

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner's personal statement describing plans to grow and develop horseback archery and polo in the U.S. satisfies the broad statutory 'substantially benefit' requirement.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner's personal statement describing plans to grow and develop horseback archery and polo in the U.S. satisfies the broad statutory 'substantially benefit' requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-04_01_B2203; source_row=43855
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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