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 10211030

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

performance in a leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters lacked detailed probative information about the significance of the Petitioner's contributions to any organization's activities. The letter crediting her for helping win an award was vague, and a separate letter did not describe the role the Petitioner's report played in obtaining the award. The Petitioner also failed to provide corroborating evidence that the organizations had distinguished reputations.

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AAO found the letters lacked detailed probative information about the significance of the Petitioner's contributions to any organization's activities. The letter crediting her for helping win an award was vague, and a separate letter did not describe the role the Petitioner's report played in obtaining the award. The Petitioner also failed to provide corroborating evidence that the organizations had distinguished reputations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_01_B2203; source_row=43694
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner did not explain how her contributions were original, and the recommendation letters authored by former colleagues were insufficiently detailed — they spoke generally to her skills and employer contributions but did not identify specific original contributions or explain their major significance in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the Petitioner did not explain how her contributions were original, and the recommendation letters authored by former colleagues were insufficiently detailed — they spoke generally to her skills and employer contributions but did not identify specific original contributions or explain their major significance in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_01_B2203; source_row=43693
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the award was limited to young business leaders and did not encompass the entire field of endeavor, and the Petitioner provided no corroborating evidence of national or international recognition. For the employer's quality trophy, the Petitioner did not address the Director's finding that the award was not issued to her directly.

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AAO agreed the award was limited to young business leaders and did not encompass the entire field of endeavor, and the Petitioner provided no corroborating evidence of national or international recognition. For the employer's quality trophy, the Petitioner did not address the Director's finding that the award was not issued to her directly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_01_B2203; source_row=43691
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commanded significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner failed to explain why she submitted salary data for business administrators rather than management analysts. Additionally, as company owner since 2017, her personal salary data reflects her role as owner of a company whose activities appeared unrelated to management analysis, and she did not claim her owner duties constituted work as a management analyst.

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AAO found the Petitioner failed to explain why she submitted salary data for business administrators rather than management analysts. Additionally, as company owner since 2017, her personal salary data reflects her role as owner of a company whose activities appeared unrelated to management analysis, and she did not claim her owner duties constituted work as a management analyst.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_01_B2203; source_row=43695
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although the Petitioner demonstrated the endeavor has substantial merit (the Director found this), the Petitioner failed to show the Beneficiary's specific role as principal systems administrator would have national-scale implications beyond the company's direct operations. The focus must be on the specific proposed endeavor, not the importance of the industry or the overall company's reach.

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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Although the Petitioner demonstrated the endeavor has substantial merit (the Director found this), the Petitioner failed to show the Beneficiary's specific role as principal systems administrator would have national-scale implications beyond the company's direct operations. The focus must be on the specific proposed endeavor, not the importance of the industry or the overall company's reach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_03_B5203; source_row=43712
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The evidence confirmed receipt of the award but failed to adequately demonstrate that the award was given for excellence in the field or that it is nationally or internationally recognized. Letters provided only broad, general statements about the award's purpose without detailing criteria, limitations, number of recipients, or objective evidence of national/international recognition.

Why this is useful

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

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The evidence confirmed receipt of the award but failed to adequately demonstrate that the award was given for excellence in the field or that it is nationally or internationally recognized. Letters provided only broad, general statements about the award's purpose without detailing criteria, limitations, number of recipients, or objective evidence of national/international recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_04_B2203; source_row=43715
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

For the dental implant association, membership requirements (continuing education hours, years of experience, exams, conference attendance) did not denote outstanding achievements, and no evidence showed judgement by recognized national or international experts.…

Why this is useful

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

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For the dental implant association, membership requirements (continuing education hours, years of experience, exams, conference attendance) did not denote outstanding achievements, and no evidence showed judgement by recognized national or international experts. For the orthodontic product certification, AAO found it was a commercial product vendor rather than an association, and even if it were one, the evidence did not show outstanding achievement as judged by experts. The honor society was joined after filing and is not in the Petitioner's field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_04_B2203; source_row=43716
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The two written articles lacked authors and the video screenshots lacked dates on the screenshots themselves and had no transcript, failing to meet the plain language requirements of the regulation. Additionally, the Petitioner did not submit evidence demonstrating that the publications qualify as professional or major trade publications or other major media.

Why this is useful

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

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The two written articles lacked authors and the video screenshots lacked dates on the screenshots themselves and had no transcript, failing to meet the plain language requirements of the regulation. Additionally, the Petitioner did not submit evidence demonstrating that the publications qualify as professional or major trade publications or other major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_04_B2203; source_row=43717
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The membership requirements only required that a film be released, screened, or distributed in some fashion. The Petitioner did not show this amounts to an outstanding achievement or that it involves review by national or international experts. The available evidence indicates the membership is broadly available to individuals actively involved in film, television, or commercial production in Nova Scotia.

Why this is useful

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

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The membership requirements only required that a film be released, screened, or distributed in some fashion. The Petitioner did not show this amounts to an outstanding achievement or that it involves review by national or international experts. The available evidence indicates the membership is broadly available to individuals actively involved in film, television, or commercial production in Nova Scotia.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_02_B2203; source_row=43701
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted only printouts from the awarding entities' own websites, which do not establish broader recognition beyond those entities. International availability to competitors is not the same as international recognition, and the Petitioner did not show the monthly awards attract significant media attention or industry notice.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner submitted only printouts from the awarding entities' own websites, which do not establish broader recognition beyond those entities. International availability to competitors is not the same as international recognition, and the Petitioner did not show the monthly awards attract significant media attention or industry notice.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-03-27_02_B2203; source_row=43700
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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