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 13191–13200

EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI107 citations

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 AAO declined to resolve whether the online publications constitute qualifying media, instead finding that the submitted materials are not about the Petitioner relating to his work in the field—they focused on the companies he co-founded and only incidentally quoted him.

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The AAO declined to resolve whether the online publications constitute qualifying media, instead finding that the submitted materials are not about the Petitioner relating to his work in the field—they focused on the companies he co-founded and only incidentally quoted him.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_05_B2203; source_row=25553
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI107 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner conflated the publisher's reputation with whether individual books qualify as major trade publications, and the Petitioner cited no evidence on appeal to establish the books themselves are professional or major trade publications or other major media.

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

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AAO found that the Petitioner conflated the publisher's reputation with whether individual books qualify as major trade publications, and the Petitioner cited no evidence on appeal to establish the books themselves are professional or major trade publications or other major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_05_B2203; source_row=25555
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI107 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner was not named as a recipient of either platform award, and the record does not show either is nationally or internationally recognized. The archived USCIS guidance on venture capital was not shown to be binding or in effect when the petition was filed, and in any event the Petitioner did not show the specific venture capital source is nationally or internationally recognized.

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The Petitioner was not named as a recipient of either platform award, and the record does not show either is nationally or internationally recognized. The archived USCIS guidance on venture capital was not shown to be binding or in effect when the petition was filed, and in any event the Petitioner did not show the specific venture capital source is nationally or internationally recognized.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_05_B2203; source_row=25552
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI107 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the record lacks preexisting, independent, and corroborating documentary evidence to support the assertions in the letters. Letters cannot substitute for documentary evidence regarding demonstrable facts like widespread implementation, and the patent citation record did not objectively show 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 agreed with the Director that the record lacks preexisting, independent, and corroborating documentary evidence to support the assertions in the letters. Letters cannot substitute for documentary evidence regarding demonstrable facts like widespread implementation, and the patent citation record did not objectively show major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_05_B2203; source_row=25554
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the evidence, primarily letters from employers and clients, demonstrated success on specific projects but not contributions of major significance to the field as a whole. Uncorroborated assertions and speculation about future impact could not establish the required field-wide influence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the evidence, primarily letters from employers and clients, demonstrated success on specific projects but not contributions of major significance to the field as a whole. Uncorroborated assertions and speculation about future impact could not establish the required field-wide influence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_11_B2203; source_row=25585
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the evidence showed the Beneficiary led individual client projects but not that he performed in a leading or critical role for the organizations as a whole. The scale of financial impact (up to $18 million) was not significant relative to the organizations' revenues exceeding $40 billion annually.

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The AAO found that the evidence showed the Beneficiary led individual client projects but not that he performed in a leading or critical role for the organizations as a whole. The scale of financial impact (up to $18 million) was not significant relative to the organizations' revenues exceeding $40 billion annually.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_11_B2203; source_row=25586
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted a de novo final merits review and found the totality of the evidence showed a developing career with increasing exposure but not yet the sustained acclaim or top-of-field status required.…

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AAO conducted a de novo final merits review and found the totality of the evidence showed a developing career with increasing exposure but not yet the sustained acclaim or top-of-field status required. The Latin Grammy nomination was significant but not indicative of sustained acclaim; media coverage portrayed her as an emerging artist; streaming and chart data lacked comparative context; and the record label president's letter spoke only of future potential.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_06_B2203; source_row=25566
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

The cooking competition was held at an industry trade conference, not an artistic exhibition or showcase. The event was part of conference programming in the food and beverage sector and did not qualify as an artistic exhibition or showcase for display of the chefs' work.

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The cooking competition was held at an industry trade conference, not an artistic exhibition or showcase. The event was part of conference programming in the food and beverage sector and did not qualify as an artistic exhibition or showcase for display of the chefs' work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_18_B2203; source_row=25623
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 in relation to others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner was put on notice of the evidentiary deficiency via RFE and failed to submit comparative salary data in response. New comparative salary evidence submitted for the first time on appeal was not accepted under the Soriano/Obaigbena rule.

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The Petitioner was put on notice of the evidentiary deficiency via RFE and failed to submit comparative salary data in response. New comparative salary evidence submitted for the first time on appeal was not accepted under the Soriano/Obaigbena rule.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_18_B2203; source_row=25625
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 about the individual in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner failed to submit evidence of the publications' circulation status when given the opportunity to do so via RFE. New evidence submitted for the first time on appeal was not accepted because the Petitioner had been put on notice of the deficiency and failed to address it. Additionally, the Cucina Italiana article could not be confirmed to be about the Petitioner based on employment records.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner failed to submit evidence of the publications' circulation status when given the opportunity to do so via RFE. New evidence submitted for the first time on appeal was not accepted because the Petitioner had been put on notice of the deficiency and failed to address it. Additionally, the Cucina Italiana article could not be confirmed to be about the Petitioner based on employment records.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_18_B2203; source_row=25622
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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