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 12871–12880

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

AAO agreed with the Director that three of the four articles were about groups of athletes, not the Petitioner individually. As to the one article about the Petitioner, the website ranked only 256,807 globally and 4,060 in Poland without comparative data, and was described as a 'regional sporting Internet portal,' insufficient to qualify as a major medium.

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AAO agreed with the Director that three of the four articles were about groups of athletes, not the Petitioner individually. As to the one article about the Petitioner, the website ranked only 256,807 globally and 4,060 in Poland without comparative data, and was described as a 'regional sporting Internet portal,' insufficient to qualify as a major medium.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_01_B2203; source_row=25989
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Master of Sports designation is a title rather than a membership in an association, the reference letters did not identify an association granting entry upon conferral of the title, and the Petitioner failed to establish membership on the national team due to contradictory evidence.…

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AAO found that the Master of Sports designation is a title rather than a membership in an association, the reference letters did not identify an association granting entry upon conferral of the title, and the Petitioner failed to establish membership on the national team due to contradictory evidence. The evidence also did not sufficiently establish that the sports club or WTKA require outstanding achievements of their members.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_01_B2203; source_row=25988
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found unresolved inconsistencies in the judging evidence: the reference letter stated the first category qualification was received over a year after the date on the certificate, and the same letter reported judging beginning in 2012 before any certification was obtained. Without documentary evidence or explanation resolving these inconsistencies, AAO could not find this criterion met.

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

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AAO found unresolved inconsistencies in the judging evidence: the reference letter stated the first category qualification was received over a year after the date on the certificate, and the same letter reported judging beginning in 2012 before any certification was obtained. Without documentary evidence or explanation resolving these inconsistencies, AAO could not find this criterion met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_01_B2203; source_row=25990
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

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the submitted articles either lacked required author identification or translation certification, or the publications were not demonstrated to be professional/major trade publications or major media. The Dong-A Ilbo chart lacked indicia of origin and the classical-music.com circulation figures were not shown to establish major status.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the submitted articles either lacked required author identification or translation certification, or the publications were not demonstrated to be professional/major trade publications or major media. The Dong-A Ilbo chart lacked indicia of origin and the classical-music.com circulation figures were not shown to establish major status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_02_B2203; source_row=25994
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the evidence showed the competitions are primarily municipal events with age restrictions and minimal prize money, and the record lacked evidence of national or international recognition of the awards beyond the sponsoring organizations.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the evidence showed the competitions are primarily municipal events with age restrictions and minimal prize money, and the record lacked evidence of national or international recognition of the awards beyond the sponsoring organizations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_02_B2203; source_row=25993
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 letters praised the Petitioner's talent and listed awards but did not provide specific, detailed information identifying original contributions and explaining their unusual influence or impact on the overall field. The Mozart project letter did not establish major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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The letters praised the Petitioner's talent and listed awards but did not provide specific, detailed information identifying original contributions and explaining their unusual influence or impact on the overall field. The Mozart project letter did not establish major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_02_B2203; source_row=25995
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 prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director's exclusion of amateur awards, finding that the plain language of the criterion does not necessarily eliminate amateur competition prizes. AAO found the kickboxing championship in 2013 sufficiently established as a qualifying tournament for the national team, meeting this criterion for the kickboxing awards, though not for the boxing awards which lacked sufficient evidence of national or inte…

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AAO disagreed with the Director's exclusion of amateur awards, finding that the plain language of the criterion does not necessarily eliminate amateur competition prizes. AAO found the kickboxing championship in 2013 sufficiently established as a qualifying tournament for the national team, meeting this criterion for the kickboxing awards, though not for the boxing awards which lacked sufficient evidence of national or international recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_01_B2203; source_row=25987
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 reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold requirement of three criteria, but noted in dicta the record does not support sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold requirement of three criteria, but noted in dicta the record does not support sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_01_B2203; source_row=25992
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role with organizations or establishments having a distinguished reputation

What the decision said

AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold requirement of three criteria, making analysis of this criterion unnecessary to the result.

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AAO reserved this criterion because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold requirement of three criteria, making analysis of this criterion unnecessary to the result.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_02_B2203; source_row=25997
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record contains evidence that the Petitioner displayed her work performing at various artistic, musical venues, satisfying this criterion.

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AAO found the record contains evidence that the Petitioner displayed her work performing at various artistic, musical venues, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-07-14_02_B2203; source_row=25996
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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