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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 10841–10850

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others in the field

What the decision said

Director found this criterion met; AAO does not revisit step-1 finding and remands for new decision.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Director found this criterion met; AAO does not revisit step-1 finding and remands for new decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_03_B2203; source_row=28532
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

AAO criticizes the Director's analysis as insufficient to apprise the Petitioner of deficiencies in the evidence, but does not itself resolve the criterion; remands for fuller analysis.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO criticizes the Director's analysis as insufficient to apprise the Petitioner of deficiencies in the evidence, but does not itself resolve the criterion; remands for fuller analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_03_B2203; source_row=28530
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

Director found this criterion not met; AAO does not resolve it on appeal but remands for a proper analysis.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Director found this criterion not met; AAO does not resolve it on appeal but remands for a proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_03_B2203; source_row=28533
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the initial evidence threshold, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support a finding of extraordinary ability.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the initial evidence threshold, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support a finding of extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_04_B2203; source_row=28545
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-time major internationally recognized award

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's finding on appeal with any specificity or offer additional arguments, so the issue is considered abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not challenge the Director's finding on appeal with any specificity or offer additional arguments, so the issue is considered abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_04_B2203; source_row=28537
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

Lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards (criterion i)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the criterion for lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the criterion for lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_04_B2203; source_row=28538
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

Published material about the alien in major media (criterion iii)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the criterion for published media about her and her work.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the criterion for published media about her and her work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_04_B2203; source_row=28539
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that over 1000 citations including four articles cited more than 100 times each constitutes 'a goodly number' of citations probative of the significance of the Petitioner's contributions under the USCIS Policy Manual.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that over 1000 citations including four articles cited more than 100 times each constitutes 'a goodly number' of citations probative of the significance of the Petitioner's contributions under the USCIS Policy Manual.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_02_B2203; source_row=28527
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner met the judging criterion, but flagged for the final merits determination that the record lacks objective support for editors' claims that only top scientists are invited to review, and noted the Petitioner's doctoral advisor's editorial role at the relevant journals.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner met the judging criterion, but flagged for the final merits determination that the record lacks objective support for editors' claims that only top scientists are invited to review, and noted the Petitioner's doctoral advisor's editorial role at the relevant journals.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_02_B2203; source_row=28526
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner met the scholarly authorship criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

View full reasoning +
AAO accepted the Director's finding that the Petitioner met the scholarly authorship criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-09-09_02_B2203; source_row=28528
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment