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 11631–11640

NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD9 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner had conducted, published, and presented research, he had not shown that his work constitutes a record of success or sufficient progress in advancing MEMS research.…

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 found that while the Petitioner had conducted, published, and presented research, he had not shown that his work constitutes a record of success or sufficient progress in advancing MEMS research. Citation evidence was flawed by failure to account for self-citations and post-filing data, support letters lacked specific examples of impact or implementation, and the level of interest generated did not show he was well positioned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-10_02_B5203; source_row=27538
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering20 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director, noting that the Petitioner's proposed research has broader implications for the field as results are disseminated through scientific journals and conferences.

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 with the Director, noting that the Petitioner's proposed research has broader implications for the field as results are disseminated through scientific journals and conferences.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-10_01_B5203; source_row=27534
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD9 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that letters of support, DARPA and Sandia documentation, and evidence of broader commercial and field impact were sufficient to demonstrate both substantial merit and national importance of the Petitioner's proposed MEMS research.

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 that letters of support, DARPA and Sandia documentation, and evidence of broader commercial and field impact were sufficient to demonstrate both substantial merit and national importance of the Petitioner's proposed MEMS research.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-10_02_B5203; source_row=27537
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-time major internationally recognized award

Why AAO was not persuaded

The awarding entity's own promotional materials cannot establish outside recognition. The award selection process was internal to the entity, and no evidence of recognition outside the awarding entity was submitted.

Why this is useful

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The awarding entity's own promotional materials cannot establish outside recognition. The award selection process was internal to the entity, and no evidence of recognition outside the awarding entity was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-07_01_B2203; source_row=27527
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

Lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The business/legal award lacked outside recognition. The law school awards were limited to the highest-scoring student in one class at one school and were not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized. The recommendation letters are not prizes or awards and received no national or 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 business/legal award lacked outside recognition. The law school awards were limited to the highest-scoring student in one class at one school and were not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized. The recommendation letters are not prizes or awards and received no national or international recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-07_01_B2203; source_row=27528
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

Leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's narrow and limited involvement as a legal consultant was not critical to the organizations themselves. His role did not rise to a leading role at the organizational level, and the specific tasks performed, while beneficial, did not establish a critical role as contemplated by the regulation.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner's narrow and limited involvement as a legal consultant was not critical to the organizations themselves. His role did not rise to a leading role at the organizational level, and the specific tasks performed, while beneficial, did not establish a critical role as contemplated by the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-07_01_B2203; source_row=27531
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Assembly elects one delegate per ten lawyers per law community — meaning 10% of all bar members are delegates — and elections are local, not national. The voting is by the general membership rather than recognized national or international experts. The Assembly is the governing body of the bar, not an independent association requiring outstanding achievements.

Why this is useful

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

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The Assembly elects one delegate per ten lawyers per law community — meaning 10% of all bar members are delegates — and elections are local, not national. The voting is by the general membership rather than recognized national or international experts. The Assembly is the governing body of the bar, not an independent association requiring outstanding achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-07_01_B2203; source_row=27529
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

Published material about the individual in professional or major media

What the decision said

AAO declined to address criterion iii because the Petitioner could not meet the threshold requirement of three criteria even if this criterion were found satisfied, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO declined to address criterion iii because the Petitioner could not meet the threshold requirement of three criteria even if this criterion were found satisfied, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-07_01_B2203; source_row=27532
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

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 Petitioner failed to establish that any of the submitted publications qualify as professional or major trade publications or other major media. CEO appointment announcements lacked required author credit and were copied or paraphrased from a company press release (not qualifying media). Articles about the company's projects are not 'about' the Petitioner.…

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner failed to establish that any of the submitted publications qualify as professional or major trade publications or other major media. CEO appointment announcements lacked required author credit and were copied or paraphrased from a company press release (not qualifying media). Articles about the company's projects are not 'about' the Petitioner. The bank executive's letter did not establish expertise in oil and gas trade publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-06_01_B2203; source_row=27522
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services in relation to others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Glassdoor data for 'Natural Power and Energy' referred to a specific company, not the natural energy sector broadly, and the Petitioner did not show that company engaged in similar activity or that its CEO salary was representative of the field. Geographic CEO salary comparisons did not show the surveyed positions were at oil and gas services companies, and the regional sample was too small (17 respondents) to be reliable.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Glassdoor data for 'Natural Power and Energy' referred to a specific company, not the natural energy sector broadly, and the Petitioner did not show that company engaged in similar activity or that its CEO salary was representative of the field. Geographic CEO salary comparisons did not show the surveyed positions were at oil and gas services companies, and the regional sample was too small (17 respondents) to be reliable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-05-06_01_B2203; source_row=27526
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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