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 12031–12040

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

Case facts

Business / Management8 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO does not disturb the Director's step-1 determination but reweighs the evidence at the final merits stage.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO does not disturb the Director's step-1 determination but reweighs the evidence at the final merits stage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_05_B2203; source_row=27057
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management8 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO does not disturb the Director's determination at step 1.

Why this is useful

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AAO does not disturb the Director's determination at step 1.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_05_B2203; source_row=27056
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive job offer and labor certification

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the second prong, and further discussion of the balancing factors would serve no meaningful purpose.

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 declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the second prong, and further discussion of the balancing factors would serve no meaningful purpose.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_04_B5203; source_row=27055
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of broader implications of his proposed research, including letters from aerospace engineering professors discussing military and commercial benefits, information about military development programs and spending, and evidence that 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 found that the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of broader implications of his proposed research, including letters from aerospace engineering professors discussing military and commercial benefits, information about military development programs and spending, and evidence that results are disseminated through scientific journals and conferences.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_04_B5203; source_row=27053
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

The AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner had not established the national importance of his proposed endeavor or that he was well positioned to advance it, making further discussion of the balancing factors unnecessary.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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The AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner had not established the national importance of his proposed endeavor or that he was well positioned to advance it, making further discussion of the balancing factors unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_02_B5203; source_row=27032
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 explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold, though it noted in dicta that the record does not demonstrate the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold, though it noted in dicta that the record does not demonstrate the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_06_B2203; source_row=27068
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found that the Petitioner satisfied the high remuneration criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and AAO found that the Petitioner satisfied the high remuneration criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_06_B2203; source_row=27067
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the evidence of mixed caliber: while there was evidence of a high-profile career with television appearances and significant awards, there were critical gaps including lack of documented recordings, no meaningful comparison of earnings, declining activity after 2016, and U.S. recognition confined to a small ethnic community performing at small venues.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the evidence of mixed caliber: while there was evidence of a high-profile career with television appearances and significant awards, there were critical gaps including lack of documented recordings, no meaningful comparison of earnings, declining activity after 2016, and U.S. recognition confined to a small ethnic community performing at small venues.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_04_B2203; source_row=27052
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services

What the decision said

AAO declined to individually address this criterion once it found at least three criteria met, but noted in the final merits analysis that the Petitioner failed to submit objective documentary evidence allowing meaningful comparison of her earnings to others 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 declined to individually address this criterion once it found at least three criteria met, but noted in the final merits analysis that the Petitioner failed to submit objective documentary evidence allowing meaningful comparison of her earnings to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_04_B2203; source_row=27051
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 professional or major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner submitted published material satisfying criterion (iii), disagreeing with the Director's discounting of the media evidence.

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 Petitioner submitted published material satisfying criterion (iii), disagreeing with the Director's discounting of the media evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-02-26_04_B2203; source_row=27047
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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