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 10401–10410

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent (bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Employment letters contradicted each other and the Form ETA 750B on hours worked and employment dates. A letter submitted for the first time on appeal was not accepted because the deficiency was flagged in the RFE and the Petitioner failed to respond to it adequately.

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Employment letters contradicted each other and the Form ETA 750B on hours worked and employment dates. A letter submitted for the first time on appeal was not accepted because the deficiency was flagged in the RFE and the Petitioner failed to respond to it adequately.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-28_02_B5203; source_row=29120
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Official academic record (criterion A)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's academic record satisfies this criterion, while noting that a degree alone is insufficient to demonstrate exceptional ability.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's academic record satisfies this criterion, while noting that a degree alone is insufficient to demonstrate exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-28_02_B5203; source_row=29121
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Membership in professional associations (criterion E)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed that without evidence showing membership at the time of filing, the criterion cannot be found to be met.

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AAO affirmed that without evidence showing membership at the time of filing, the criterion cannot be found to be met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-28_02_B5203; source_row=29123
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that reliance on a single book published seven years prior, with modest citation counts, brief and general letters of support, minimal engagement with post-2015 work, and an informal email exchange about a visiting scholar position collectively failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim or a position at the very top of the field.

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AAO found that reliance on a single book published seven years prior, with modest citation counts, brief and general letters of support, minimal engagement with post-2015 work, and an informal email exchange about a visiting scholar position collectively failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim or a position at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-25_01_B2203; source_row=29107
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 found the Petitioner failed to show his specific marketing management services would impact the broader U.S. economy at a level commensurate with national importance. His statements and business letters did not show broader implications beyond his immediate employers, and he did not provide evidence of projected job creation, revenue benefits, or substantial positive economic effects.

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 Petitioner failed to show his specific marketing management services would impact the broader U.S. economy at a level commensurate with national importance. His statements and business letters did not show broader implications beyond his immediate employers, and he did not provide evidence of projected job creation, revenue benefits, or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-25_01_B5203; source_row=29108
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The certificates themselves are not evidence of their own national or international recognition, do not identify the outstanding achievement that earned inclusion, and the Wikipedia article submitted on appeal lacks reliability and does not indicate that inclusion is a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award.

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The certificates themselves are not evidence of their own national or international recognition, do not identify the outstanding achievement that earned inclusion, and the Wikipedia article submitted on appeal lacks reliability and does not indicate that inclusion is a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-25_02_B2203; source_row=29111
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesPhD

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

None of the submitted materials are about the Petitioner; rather, they merely include his work in bibliographies or lists of references. A book chapter or press release advertising it does not constitute qualifying published material about the Petitioner.

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None of the submitted materials are about the Petitioner; rather, they merely include his work in bibliographies or lists of references. A book chapter or press release advertising it does not constitute qualifying published material about the Petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-25_02_B2203; source_row=29112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the Petitioner's involvement in published research is documented, the record does not establish that his contributions are of major significance. The letters describe his work but do not explain major significance; the citation context from Dimensions helps but is insufficient without independent, objective evidence; and the Petitioner's specific role in the cited mouse model was not established.

Why this is useful

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

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While the Petitioner's involvement in published research is documented, the record does not establish that his contributions are of major significance. The letters describe his work but do not explain major significance; the citation context from Dimensions helps but is insufficient without independent, objective evidence; and the Petitioner's specific role in the cited mouse model was not established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-25_02_B2203; source_row=29114
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirmed that the Petitioner's authorship of scholarly articles satisfies 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(vi).

Why this is useful

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AAO affirmed that the Petitioner's authorship of scholarly articles satisfies 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(vi).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-25_01_B2203; source_row=29106
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Honorable Mention award nationally recognized because it was presented by Turkey's national government at a ceremony attended by the President of Turkey and received media coverage. The existence of a more prestigious award at the same ceremony does not disqualify the Honorable Mention.

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AAO found the Honorable Mention award nationally recognized because it was presented by Turkey's national government at a ceremony attended by the President of Turkey and received media coverage. The existence of a more prestigious award at the same ceremony does not disqualify the Honorable Mention.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-02-25_01_B2203; source_row=29101
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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