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 11961–11970

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner satisfied the awards criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner satisfied the awards criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-03_03_B2203; source_row=27123
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner satisfied the basic elements of the judging criterion because she provided untranslated emails demonstrating she judged three competitions and a publication listing her as a juror. AAO noted the translation issues cited by the director were not applicable to the emails.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the petitioner satisfied the basic elements of the judging criterion because she provided untranslated emails demonstrating she judged three competitions and a publication listing her as a juror. AAO noted the translation issues cited by the director were not applicable to the emails.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-03_03_B2203; source_row=27125
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner satisfied the display criterion.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner satisfied the display criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-03_03_B2203; source_row=27126
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the criterion met based on the Petitioner's roles at his employer, where he rose to creative director and lead designer and the company had received multiple notable awards. However, the criterion was not met as to the two client organizations due to lack of probative corroborating evidence.

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

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AAO found the criterion met based on the Petitioner's roles at his employer, where he rose to creative director and lead designer and the company had received multiple notable awards. However, the criterion was not met as to the two client organizations due to lack of probative corroborating evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-03_04_B2203; source_row=27134
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner was the recipient of two nationally recognized prizes for excellence in his field, and that minor participation limitations did not disqualify the awards under the plain language of the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner was the recipient of two nationally recognized prizes for excellence in his field, and that minor participation limitations did not disqualify the awards under the plain language of the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-03_04_B2203; source_row=27130
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

The AAO did not reach a final merits conclusion itself; it found the Director's analysis inadequate and remanded for a new decision considering the totality of the record.

Why this is useful

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The AAO did not reach a final merits conclusion itself; it found the Director's analysis inadequate and remanded for a new decision considering the totality of the record.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-03_02_B2203; source_row=27122
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

awards or prizes

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO previously determined in the underlying appeal that the Petitioner established he received nationally recognized awards or prizes in kickboxing; this finding was not contested on motion.

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AAO previously determined in the underlying appeal that the Petitioner established he received nationally recognized awards or prizes in kickboxing; this finding was not contested on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-03_01_B2203; source_row=27118
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that actorsentertainment.com lacked sufficient comparative data to establish it as a major medium, that the argument any article by a professional writer constitutes a 'professional publication' was unpersuasive, and that the bulk of submitted articles either were not about the Petitioner, lacked required elements (date, title, author), or related to her prior broadcasting career rather than acting.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found that actorsentertainment.com lacked sufficient comparative data to establish it as a major medium, that the argument any article by a professional writer constitutes a 'professional publication' was unpersuasive, and that the bulk of submitted articles either were not about the Petitioner, lacked required elements (date, title, author), or related to her prior broadcasting career rather than acting.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-02_02_B2203; source_row=27110
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 in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that a television series that has not yet found a distributor, filmed an episode, or aired cannot satisfy the major significance requirement. Projections of potential artistic and economic impact are insufficient; the contribution must already have been widely implemented or remarkably impacted the field.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found that a television series that has not yet found a distributor, filmed an episode, or aired cannot satisfy the major significance requirement. Projections of potential artistic and economic impact are insufficient; the contribution must already have been widely implemented or remarkably impacted the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-02_02_B2203; source_row=27112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or other significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that earning 10% above standard SAG-AFTRA scale does not establish a high salary in relation to other television and movie actors. The record lacked evidence of total annual earnings, and the Petitioner's hourly/daily rates were at or just above standard union scale. Comparative Canadian salary data was insufficient for her Canadian work.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that earning 10% above standard SAG-AFTRA scale does not establish a high salary in relation to other television and movie actors. The record lacked evidence of total annual earnings, and the Petitioner's hourly/daily rates were at or just above standard union scale. Comparative Canadian salary data was insufficient for her Canadian work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-03-02_02_B2203; source_row=27115
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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