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 10801–10810

NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

Reference letters were conclusory and lacked specific examples of contributions to the field. Academic work was produced as a student and not shown to have had broader impact. Three citations did not persuasively establish recognition in the field. Participation in events was not substantiated by actual attendance evidence.

Why this is useful

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

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Reference letters were conclusory and lacked specific examples of contributions to the field. Academic work was produced as a student and not shown to have had broader impact. Three citations did not persuasively establish recognition in the field. Participation in events was not substantiated by actual attendance evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_01_B5203; source_row=28591
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

Official academic record showing degree or award relating to area of exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The FAA-approved training documents post-dated the petition filing and thus could not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Foreign training documents lacked English translations and did not clearly show formal aviation education from an institution of higher learning. Secondary school records were not related to aviation. The engineering transcript lacked translation and showed only five courses.

Why this is useful

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

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The FAA-approved training documents post-dated the petition filing and thus could not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Foreign training documents lacked English translations and did not clearly show formal aviation education from an institution of higher learning. Secondary school records were not related to aviation. The engineering transcript lacked translation and showed only five courses.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_05_B5203; source_row=28605
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

Recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The recommendation letters praised the Petitioner's personal accomplishments but did not explain how those accomplishments constituted recognition for achievements or significant contributions to the aviation field as a whole. A safety record alone does not set the Petitioner apart as having field-wide recognition.

Why this is useful

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

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The recommendation letters praised the Petitioner's personal accomplishments but did not explain how those accomplishments constituted recognition for achievements or significant contributions to the aviation field as a whole. A safety record alone does not set the Petitioner apart as having field-wide recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_05_B5203; source_row=28610
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

At least ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the employer certification covering 1998–2015 combined with the service verification letter showing continued employment from June 2015 was sufficient by a preponderance of the evidence to establish more than ten years of full-time experience.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the employer certification covering 1998–2015 combined with the service verification letter showing continued employment from June 2015 was sufficient by a preponderance of the evidence to establish more than ten years of full-time experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_05_B5203; source_row=28606
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

On balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO did not separately address prong three, having concluded the petition failed on prongs one and two.

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 did not separately address prong three, having concluded the petition failed on prongs one and two.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_05_B5203; source_row=28613
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

License to practice the profession or certification for a particular profession or occupation

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner presented ATPs from two aviation authorities, which the AAO found sufficient.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner presented ATPs from two aviation authorities, which the AAO found sufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_05_B5203; source_row=28607
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

The recommendation letters lack specific examples showing how the petitioner's technique, course, or book impacted the field, and the petitioner did not submit corroborating evidence of widespread recognition or impact.

Why this is useful

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

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The recommendation letters lack specific examples showing how the petitioner's technique, course, or book impacted the field, and the petitioner did not submit corroborating evidence of widespread recognition or impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-14_01_B2203; source_row=28583
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that while certificates and letters confirmed officiating participation, the Petitioner did not provide descriptions of his duties showing he evaluated or judged competitors' work rather than merely enforcing rules.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding, concluding that while certificates and letters confirmed officiating participation, the Petitioner did not provide descriptions of his duties showing he evaluated or judged competitors' work rather than merely enforcing rules. The evidence of serving as an 'official' or 'referee' was insufficient without further documentation showing he awarded points or exercised judgment in choosing winners.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=28560
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding, holding that while the evidence confirmed the Petitioner received awards, it did not demonstrate the national or international significance of those awards. The limited media coverage and other materials were insufficient to establish that the awards are nationally or internationally recognized for excellence in the field.

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, holding that while the evidence confirmed the Petitioner received awards, it did not demonstrate the national or international significance of those awards. The limited media coverage and other materials were insufficient to establish that the awards are nationally or internationally recognized for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=28557
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

AAO agreed the criterion was not met, but criticized the Director's reasoning that the letters did not describe the selection process at all. AAO found the letters in fact described a selection process but were inconsistent with one another and lacked independent corroboration, and further failed to identify the Petitioner's specific competitive results that led to team membership.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the criterion was not met, but criticized the Director's reasoning that the letters did not describe the selection process at all. AAO found the letters in fact described a selection process but were inconsistent with one another and lacked independent corroboration, and further failed to identify the Petitioner's specific competitive results that led to team membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=28558
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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