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 13011–13020

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards

What the decision said

The Director found that the Petitioner did not satisfy the awards criterion. The Petitioner did not contest this on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived.

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The Director found that the Petitioner did not satisfy the awards criterion. The Petitioner did not contest this on appeal, so AAO deemed the issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-29_03_B2203; source_row=25842
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 declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the step-1 threshold, but noted that review of the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the step-1 threshold, but noted that review of the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-29_03_B2203; source_row=25845
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager26 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Beneficiary reviewed papers for journals, satisfying the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

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The Beneficiary reviewed papers for journals, satisfying the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-29_06_B2203; source_row=25856
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager26 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Beneficiary authored scholarly articles in professional publications, satisfying this criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The Beneficiary authored scholarly articles in professional publications, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-29_06_B2203; source_row=25857
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

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 media appearances were about the Petitioner's employer and its services, not about the Petitioner herself relating to her work. The article identifies her as an expert on the subject but is not about her. The Petitioner's media appearances were made as part of her marketing duties to promote her employers' services and products.

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The media appearances were about the Petitioner's employer and its services, not about the Petitioner herself relating to her work. The article identifies her as an expert on the subject but is not about her. The Petitioner's media appearances were made as part of her marketing duties to promote her employers' services and products.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_04_B2203; source_row=25808
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The awards and certificates came from local or regional ethnic associations and do not reflect excellence in the field of business development and marketing. The 2019 letter submitted in response to the RFE substantially revised the stated reason for the award in a way that raises serious credibility questions. The NATA certificate was vague and may simply acknowledge attendance.…

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The awards and certificates came from local or regional ethnic associations and do not reflect excellence in the field of business development and marketing. The 2019 letter submitted in response to the RFE substantially revised the stated reason for the award in a way that raises serious credibility questions. The NATA certificate was vague and may simply acknowledge attendance. The ATA YouTube video was of poor quality and did not demonstrate receipt of a prize or award for excellence in her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_04_B2203; source_row=25807
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that citation volume and geographic distribution of citing authors were not self-evident indicia of sustained acclaim; the technology remained in a preliminary stage with no confirmed adoption beyond prototypes; and the practical applications of the research did not demonstrate the sustained national or international acclaim required for this highly restrictive classification.

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AAO found that citation volume and geographic distribution of citing authors were not self-evident indicia of sustained acclaim; the technology remained in a preliminary stage with no confirmed adoption beyond prototypes; and the practical applications of the research did not demonstrate the sustained national or international acclaim required for this highly restrictive classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_02_B2203; source_row=25799
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner did not establish that she performed in a leading or critical role for productions with distinguished reputations. Projects still in production could not have an established reputation; on completed major films she held lower-ranking roles; and the one art director credit was as one of ten art directors with several who outranked her.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner did not establish that she performed in a leading or critical role for productions with distinguished reputations. Projects still in production could not have an established reputation; on completed major films she held lower-ranking roles; and the one art director credit was as one of ten art directors with several who outranked her. Expert letters asserting her substantial credit were not sufficiently corroborated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_01_B2203; source_row=25792
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 for services

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the comparison inadequate because the BLS figures cited were for art directors across all industries rather than specifically in the motion picture industry. Additionally, the Petitioner's hourly wage calculation improperly assumed a 40-hour work week when evidence suggested 60-hour weeks, and the weekly pay receipts did not document her total annual earnings.

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AAO found the comparison inadequate because the BLS figures cited were for art directors across all industries rather than specifically in the motion picture industry. Additionally, the Petitioner's hourly wage calculation improperly assumed a 40-hour work week when evidence suggested 60-hour weeks, and the weekly pay receipts did not document her total annual earnings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_01_B2203; source_row=25793
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

AAO found that the submitted letters attested to the Petitioner's talent and listed her credits but did not explain the major significance of specific contributions she has made to the field. General praise does not demonstrate that contributions have been widely implemented, remarkably impacted, or risen to the level of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the submitted letters attested to the Petitioner's talent and listed her credits but did not explain the major significance of specific contributions she has made to the field. General praise does not demonstrate that contributions have been widely implemented, remarkably impacted, or risen to the level of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_01_B2203; source_row=25790
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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