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 9421–9430

EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not pursue this claim in his response to the RFE, and AAO did not address it.

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 pursue this claim in his response to the RFE, and AAO did not address it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-23_01_B2203; source_row=30467
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found and AAO accepted that the Petitioner submitted evidence of participation as a judge of others in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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The Director found and AAO accepted that the Petitioner submitted evidence of participation as a judge of others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-23_01_B2203; source_row=30469
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found and AAO accepted that the Petitioner submitted evidence that he commanded a high salary in relation to others in the field.

Why this is useful

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The Director found and AAO accepted that the Petitioner submitted evidence that he commanded a high salary in relation to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-23_01_B2203; source_row=30472
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural EngineeringManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer/labor certification

What the decision said

AAO declines to reach prong three because the prong-one failure is dispositive.

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 declines to reach prong three because the prong-one failure is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-23_01_B5203; source_row=30476
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural EngineeringManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declines to reach prong two because the prong-one failure is 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 declines to reach prong two because the prong-one failure is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-23_01_B5203; source_row=30475
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

AAO agreed the Petitioner had not shown his endeavor would extend beyond his company and its customers to impact the frozen dessert industry or the U.S. economy broadly. The record lacked business records, bank statements, or real estate investment proposals demonstrating current investment levels or funding for the proposed factories, and the projections standing alone were insufficient to establish 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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AAO agreed the Petitioner had not shown his endeavor would extend beyond his company and its customers to impact the frozen dessert industry or the U.S. economy broadly. The record lacked business records, bank statements, or real estate investment proposals demonstrating current investment levels or funding for the proposed factories, and the projections standing alone were insufficient to establish national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-22_01_B5203; source_row=30461
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent degree qualification (single degree rule)

Why AAO was not persuaded

All three credential evaluators agree that the Beneficiary's bachelor's degree alone is not equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Because the regulations require a single foreign degree equivalent to at least a U.S. baccalaureate as a predicate for an advanced degree finding, and that predicate is not met, the foreign master's degree cannot qualify as an 'advanced degree' under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).…

Why this is useful

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

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All three credential evaluators agree that the Beneficiary's bachelor's degree alone is not equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Because the regulations require a single foreign degree equivalent to at least a U.S. baccalaureate as a predicate for an advanced degree finding, and that predicate is not met, the foreign master's degree cannot qualify as an 'advanced degree' under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2). The evaluations are also contradictory and lack a credible analytical roadmap. The Petitioner further failed to show five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience to qualify under the alternative pathway.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-22_02_B5203; source_row=30464
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets minimum educational requirement of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The plain language of the labor certification requires a master's degree or foreign equivalent, and USCIS may neither ignore nor supplement that certification term. The Beneficiary's credentials do not meet this requirement for the same reasons they do not satisfy the advanced degree definition.

Why this is useful

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

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The plain language of the labor certification requires a master's degree or foreign equivalent, and USCIS may neither ignore nor supplement that certification term. The Beneficiary's credentials do not meet this requirement for the same reasons they do not satisfy the advanced degree definition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-22_02_B5203; source_row=30465
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other119 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director's analysis was conclusory and failed to engage with citation evidence (including 119 citations for one key article) and detailed reference letters from field professors. AAO concluded the Petitioner's work did significantly impact the field and that original contributions of major significance were established.

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 Director's analysis was conclusory and failed to engage with citation evidence (including 119 citations for one key article) and detailed reference letters from field professors. AAO concluded the Petitioner's work did significantly impact the field and that original contributions of major significance were established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-22_01_B2203; source_row=30458
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other119 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Petitioner met the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner met the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-22_01_B2203; source_row=30457
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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