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 12121–12130

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

Final merits determination – sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO concluded that the totality of evidence—including an industry award, leading corporate positions, compensation, published articles, and editorial board membership—established a successful career but not sustained national or international acclaim at the top of the field. The post-2015 inactivity was not the deciding factor but was one consideration in the overall analysis.

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The AAO concluded that the totality of evidence—including an industry award, leading corporate positions, compensation, published articles, and editorial board membership—established a successful career but not sustained national or international acclaim at the top of the field. The post-2015 inactivity was not the deciding factor but was one consideration in the overall analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_04_B2203; source_row=26883
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

AAO concluded the recommendation letters and citation evidence describe originality and prospective benefit but do not demonstrate that the Petitioner's contributions have already been widely implemented or had remarkable influence on the field. Seven citations and unsupported broad praise are insufficient.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded the recommendation letters and citation evidence describe originality and prospective benefit but do not demonstrate that the Petitioner's contributions have already been widely implemented or had remarkable influence on the field. Seven citations and unsupported broad praise are insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_09_B2203; source_row=26908
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management20 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO clarified that it did not require bylaws but noted the letters lacked detail about membership requirements and did not address the separate requirement that recognized national or international experts judge prospective members.

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AAO clarified that it did not require bylaws but noted the letters lacked detail about membership requirements and did not address the separate requirement that recognized national or international experts judge prospective members.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_13_B2203; source_row=26930
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management20 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original business-related contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that the letters did not establish that the Petitioner's activities had remarkable impact in the field beyond his own companies, and noted USCIS policy guidance that letters must specifically articulate how contributions are of major significance and discuss impact on subsequent work.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO held that the letters did not establish that the Petitioner's activities had remarkable impact in the field beyond his own companies, and noted USCIS policy guidance that letters must specifically articulate how contributions are of major significance and discuss impact on subsequent work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_13_B2203; source_row=26933
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Business / Management20 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the individual in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that unpublished decisions do not bind USCIS, the facts were distinguishable, the Petitioner did not provide adequate corroborative circulation evidence for the Brazilian newspapers, and the motion did not address that 18 articles either lacked any reference to him or omitted required date/author information.

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AAO held that unpublished decisions do not bind USCIS, the facts were distinguishable, the Petitioner did not provide adequate corroborative circulation evidence for the Brazilian newspapers, and the motion did not address that 18 articles either lacked any reference to him or omitted required date/author information.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_13_B2203; source_row=26931
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management20 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that even if the Petitioner could be considered the recipient, the motion did not address AAO's separate determination that the recognition plaque and CEL survey rating were not nationally or internationally recognized awards for excellence in the field.

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AAO held that even if the Petitioner could be considered the recipient, the motion did not address AAO's separate determination that the recognition plaque and CEL survey rating were not nationally or internationally recognized awards for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_13_B2203; source_row=26929
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reconsider – incorrect application of law or policy

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the NOIR properly advised the Petitioner of the full multi-part Kazarian analysis and that the final merits determination was within its scope. As to the unemployment argument, the Petitioner failed to explain how law or policy was misapplied, and a motion to reconsider cannot consider new facts or evidence.

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The AAO found that the NOIR properly advised the Petitioner of the full multi-part Kazarian analysis and that the final merits determination was within its scope. As to the unemployment argument, the Petitioner failed to explain how law or policy was misapplied, and a motion to reconsider cannot consider new facts or evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_04_B2203; source_row=26881
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to Reopen – new facts and ineffective assistance of counsel

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that there is no remedy available for use of an unlicensed representative, and that the claimed ineffective assistance of licensed counsel did not prejudice the outcome because the appeal was resolved solely on the merits of the extraordinary ability claim without reliance on the disputed credibility issues.…

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The AAO found that there is no remedy available for use of an unlicensed representative, and that the claimed ineffective assistance of licensed counsel did not prejudice the outcome because the appeal was resolved solely on the merits of the extraordinary ability claim without reliance on the disputed credibility issues. The new facts provided did not overcome the prior determination of no sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_04_B2203; source_row=26882
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO adopted the Director's finding that criterion (iii) was satisfied and declined to disturb it.

Why this is useful

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AAO adopted the Director's finding that criterion (iii) was satisfied and declined to disturb it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_02_B2203; source_row=26876
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the initial evidentiary threshold. In an advisory observation, AAO noted the record did not establish the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the initial evidentiary threshold. In an advisory observation, AAO noted the record did not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2021-01-29_02_B2203; source_row=26878
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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