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 13021–13030

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 found that the Petitioner did not establish her personal receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards. Awards went to films or to named directors/producers rather than to the Petitioner herself. Nominations and finalist placements do not constitute receipt of awards.…

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AAO found that the Petitioner did not establish her personal receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards. Awards went to films or to named directors/producers rather than to the Petitioner herself. Nominations and finalist placements do not constitute receipt of awards. Where award materials did name the Petitioner, she did not establish the national or international recognition of those specific awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_01_B2203; source_row=25788
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial successes in the performing arts

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner did not satisfy this criterion. The regulatory criterion requires evidence of commercial success through box office receipts or record/cassette/CD/video sales tied to the alien's work, not simply credited involvement in commercially successful films.…

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner did not satisfy this criterion. The regulatory criterion requires evidence of commercial success through box office receipts or record/cassette/CD/video sales tied to the alien's work, not simply credited involvement in commercially successful films. The Petitioner was not the lead production designer or art director on the named projects, and there was no objective evidence to support claims she was significantly responsible for commercial performance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_01_B2203; source_row=25794
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

The expert letters lacked specificity about the Petitioner's individual contributions versus her collaborators', and shared suspiciously similar language undermining their credibility. Citation evidence was either post-dating the filing or insufficient to show major significance within 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 expert letters lacked specificity about the Petitioner's individual contributions versus her collaborators', and shared suspiciously similar language undermining their credibility. Citation evidence was either post-dating the filing or insufficient to show major significance within the field. The Petitioner had not demonstrated that her work had been widely implemented or remarkably impacted the field as of the filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_07_B2203; source_row=25828
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services

Why AAO was not persuaded

The comparison data is incomplete and conflicting. The 'Top Executives' BLS category is overly broad; the more apt 'Financial Managers' category shows median wages slightly higher than the Beneficiary's base salary. The Petitioner conflated total compensation with base salary, and survey samples were small and inconsistent.

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The comparison data is incomplete and conflicting. The 'Top Executives' BLS category is overly broad; the more apt 'Financial Managers' category shows median wages slightly higher than the Beneficiary's base salary. The Petitioner conflated total compensation with base salary, and survey samples were small and inconsistent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_03_B2203; source_row=25805
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

ANPAD's bylaws indicate associate membership is open even to students, so it does not require outstanding achievements. The ANPAD Test is an admissions test and qualifying for graduate school is not an outstanding achievement.

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ANPAD's bylaws indicate associate membership is open even to students, so it does not require outstanding achievements. The ANPAD Test is an admissions test and qualifying for graduate school is not an outstanding achievement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_03_B2203; source_row=25800
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Beneficiary's role is critical for the petitioner but found the Petitioner did not establish that the company (a new holding company) has a distinguished reputation. Reputation must derive from outside perception, not from self-assessment by company officials.…

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AAO agreed the Beneficiary's role is critical for the petitioner but found the Petitioner did not establish that the company (a new holding company) has a distinguished reputation. Reputation must derive from outside perception, not from self-assessment by company officials. Claims about prior employers relied on insider letters and on parent-company reputations rather than reputations at the level of the Beneficiary's actual roles.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_03_B2203; source_row=25804
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the Petitioner failed to credibly reconcile inconsistent income figures across hospital letters, income certificates, and tax documents. Additionally, the Petitioner did not provide an adequate basis for comparison to show her remuneration was significantly high relative to other director physician oncologists in China, as the submitted job announcements were not comparable positions and the survey data w…

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The AAO found that the Petitioner failed to credibly reconcile inconsistent income figures across hospital letters, income certificates, and tax documents. Additionally, the Petitioner did not provide an adequate basis for comparison to show her remuneration was significantly high relative to other director physician oncologists in China, as the submitted job announcements were not comparable positions and the survey data was insufficiently detailed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_05_B2203; source_row=25818
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that many submitted articles were authored by the Petitioner rather than about her, or were conference summaries about research findings rather than about the Petitioner personally. Articles featuring interviews with the Petitioner were not considered to be about her. A post-filing article could not retroactively establish eligibility.

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The AAO found that many submitted articles were authored by the Petitioner rather than about her, or were conference summaries about research findings rather than about the Petitioner personally. Articles featuring interviews with the Petitioner were not considered to be about her. A post-filing article could not retroactively establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_05_B2203; source_row=25813
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 media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The new CEO letter from Pan Armenian TV confirmed the broadcast date but could not substantiate viewership claims with specific statistics. AAO found the station is a minority-language outlet with predominantly local West Coast viewership and does not constitute major media. New circulation data for print publications did not address previously identified deficiencies.

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The new CEO letter from Pan Armenian TV confirmed the broadcast date but could not substantiate viewership claims with specific statistics. AAO found the station is a minority-language outlet with predominantly local West Coast viewership and does not constitute major media. New circulation data for print publications did not address previously identified deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_06_B2203; source_row=25823
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

The Petitioner submitted a new letter from an official of the Armenian Karate Federation attesting to the Petitioner's leading and critical role, but AAO found this did not constitute objective documentary evidence to show the Armenian national karate team has a distinguished reputation or that the Petitioner's participation significantly affected that reputation.

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The Petitioner submitted a new letter from an official of the Armenian Karate Federation attesting to the Petitioner's leading and critical role, but AAO found this did not constitute objective documentary evidence to show the Armenian national karate team has a distinguished reputation or that the Petitioner's participation significantly affected that reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-05-28_06_B2203; source_row=25825
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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