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 13171–13180

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and the AAO agreed that the Beneficiary satisfied the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and the AAO agreed that the Beneficiary satisfied the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-27_01_B2203; source_row=25640
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and the AAO agreed that the Beneficiary satisfied the scholarly articles 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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Both the Director and the AAO agreed that the Beneficiary satisfied the scholarly articles criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-27_01_B2203; source_row=25641
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 step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in advisory dicta that the record would not support sustained acclaim.

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 conduct a formal final merits determination because the step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in advisory dicta that the record would not support sustained acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-27_01_B2203; source_row=25644
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO reserved the criterion (v) finding because even if met, the Petitioner could only satisfy two of the three required criteria and the appeal outcome would not change.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reserved the criterion (v) finding because even if met, the Petitioner could only satisfy two of the three required criteria and the appeal outcome would not change.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-27_02_B2203; source_row=25646
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Petitioner that the submitted articles are scholarly in nature and appeared in professional publications, finding the Director's characterization unsupported by the record.

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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AAO agreed with the Petitioner that the submitted articles are scholarly in nature and appeared in professional publications, finding the Director's characterization unsupported by the record.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-27_02_B2203; source_row=25647
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering30 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's letters described original work in drug discovery but referred only in general terms to future promise and potential. Closely-held trade secrets not yet in clinical trials cannot demonstrate major significance. Citation counts of 30 were insufficient to show the work influenced the field at 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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The Petitioner's letters described original work in drug discovery but referred only in general terms to future promise and potential. Closely-held trade secrets not yet in clinical trials cannot demonstrate major significance. Citation counts of 30 were insufficient to show the work influenced the field at the level of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_07_B2203; source_row=25568
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering30 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner abandoned his claim regarding one organization on appeal. As to his employer, the company's documented track record consisted only of fundraising and closely-held trade secrets; no approved drugs, no proven effectiveness, and local media attention did not establish a distinguished reputation.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner abandoned his claim regarding one organization on appeal. As to his employer, the company's documented track record consisted only of fundraising and closely-held trade secrets; no approved drugs, no proven effectiveness, and local media attention did not establish a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_07_B2203; source_row=25570
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 testimonial letters praised the Beneficiary's technical skills but did not identify specific original contributions or explain how he has remarkably impacted or influenced the field. Letters lacking specifics about the impact of contributions do not establish major significance.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The testimonial letters praised the Beneficiary's technical skills but did not identify specific original contributions or explain how he has remarkably impacted or influenced the field. Letters lacking specifics about the impact of contributions do not establish major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_19_B2203; source_row=25631
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

The company award was not received by the individual beneficiary. The two remaining awards lacked evidence of national or international significance, and the record did not establish the criteria used or number of competitors for those awards.

Why this is useful

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

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The company award was not received by the individual beneficiary. The two remaining awards lacked evidence of national or international significance, and the record did not establish the criteria used or number of competitors for those awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_19_B2203; source_row=25628
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

The limited information about membership selection criteria did not establish that the Beneficiary, admitted at age 19 or 20, was required to demonstrate outstanding achievements as judged by recognized national or international experts. No by-laws or other primary documentation were provided.

Why this is useful

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

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The limited information about membership selection criteria did not establish that the Beneficiary, admitted at age 19 or 20, was required to demonstrate outstanding achievements as judged by recognized national or international experts. No by-laws or other primary documentation were provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_19_B2203; source_row=25629
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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