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 13201–13210

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that leading a team within a company does not constitute a leading or critical role for the organization as a whole, and that excellence on specific projects does not translate to an organizational-level leading or critical role. AAO also noted that conflating contributions with leading/critical role would collapse two distinct criteria into one.

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AAO found that leading a team within a company does not constitute a leading or critical role for the organization as a whole, and that excellence on specific projects does not translate to an organizational-level leading or critical role. AAO also noted that conflating contributions with leading/critical role would collapse two distinct criteria into one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_10_B2203; source_row=25582
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 found that programs alone do not establish the leading or critical nature of the Petitioner's roles, that teaching positions are not inherently critical at the organizational level, that her own dance company's distinguished reputation was not established, and that her role at the Foundation amounted to an assistant-level position rather than a leading or critical one. Promotional materials were discounted as self-serving.

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AAO found that programs alone do not establish the leading or critical nature of the Petitioner's roles, that teaching positions are not inherently critical at the organizational level, that her own dance company's distinguished reputation was not established, and that her role at the Foundation amounted to an assistant-level position rather than a leading or critical one. Promotional materials were discounted as self-serving.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_16_B2203; source_row=25614
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 major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that most submitted articles do not qualify as being 'about' the Petitioner, that articles which do focus on her did not appear in major media, and that one article lacked an identified author as required. The TV appearance was brief and incidental, and other online sources were blogs or promotional materials.

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AAO found that most submitted articles do not qualify as being 'about' the Petitioner, that articles which do focus on her did not appear in major media, and that one article lacked an identified author as required. The TV appearance was brief and incidental, and other online sources were blogs or promotional materials.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_16_B2203; source_row=25611
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Environment / Energy6 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The limited documentation reflects that the fellowship was established for Ph.D. students, and the Petitioner did not provide independent evidence regarding the number of applicants, scope of eligible applicants, or selection criteria. Academic awards received while preparing for a vocation generally do not constitute nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field.

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The limited documentation reflects that the fellowship was established for Ph.D. students, and the Petitioner did not provide independent evidence regarding the number of applicants, scope of eligible applicants, or selection criteria. Academic awards received while preparing for a vocation generally do not constitute nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_09_B2203; source_row=25574
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Environment / Energy6 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The evidence does not demonstrate that Sigma Xi requires outstanding achievements as judged by recognized national or international experts. The 'noteworthy achievement' standard requires only authorship of two papers, and the record does not establish the nomination and election process or that it imposes additional qualitative criteria amounting to an 'outstanding achievement' requirement.…

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The evidence does not demonstrate that Sigma Xi requires outstanding achievements as judged by recognized national or international experts. The 'noteworthy achievement' standard requires only authorship of two papers, and the record does not establish the nomination and election process or that it imposes additional qualitative criteria amounting to an 'outstanding achievement' requirement. The editorial board and reviewer roles also do not satisfy this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_09_B2203; source_row=25575
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Environment / Energy6 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The testimonial letters confirmed the originality of the Petitioner's techniques but did not establish that his contributions have been widely implemented, remarkably impactful, or recognized as majorly significant. Citation numbers were modest and no comparative data was provided. NASA funding and media coverage from the Petitioner's own university 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 testimonial letters confirmed the originality of the Petitioner's techniques but did not establish that his contributions have been widely implemented, remarkably impactful, or recognized as majorly significant. Citation numbers were modest and no comparative data was provided. NASA funding and media coverage from the Petitioner's own university did not establish major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_09_B2203; source_row=25578
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 major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The El Espectador article lacked a properly certified translation and the Petitioner failed to establish El Espectador qualifies as major media. The El Tiempo article was only partially translated and contained only two sentences about the Petitioner, so it was not about him. The Remezcla article was sufficiently about the Petitioner but the Petitioner failed to establish Remezcla qualifies as major media.

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The El Espectador article lacked a properly certified translation and the Petitioner failed to establish El Espectador qualifies as major media. The El Tiempo article was only partially translated and contained only two sentences about the Petitioner, so it was not about him. The Remezcla article was sufficiently about the Petitioner but the Petitioner failed to establish Remezcla qualifies as major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_17_B2203; source_row=25616
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial success in the performing arts

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because YouTube views do not constitute sales of recorded music, and the gold and platinum record evidence was insufficiently documented due to lack of properly certified translations and absence of primary evidence from the certifying body or record label. Even if translations had been proper, no comparative sales evidence was provided.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because YouTube views do not constitute sales of recorded music, and the gold and platinum record evidence was insufficiently documented due to lack of properly certified translations and absence of primary evidence from the certifying body or record label. Even if translations had been proper, no comparative sales evidence was provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_17_B2203; source_row=25619
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO declined to make a formal final merits determination given the failure at step 1, but indicated in dicta that the aggregate record would not support sustained acclaim or top-of-the-field status.

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AAO declined to make a formal final merits determination given the failure at step 1, but indicated in dicta that the aggregate record would not support sustained acclaim or top-of-the-field status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_08_B2203; source_row=25573
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

one-time achievement (major, internationally recognized award)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded that the Petitioner received only a participation certificate from NARAS, not a Grammy statuette or Grammy Award, and that the certificate was not shown to be comparable in recognition to the Grammy itself; the engineering category Petitioner worked under was for performance/song, not engineering.

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AAO concluded that the Petitioner received only a participation certificate from NARAS, not a Grammy statuette or Grammy Award, and that the certificate was not shown to be comparable in recognition to the Grammy itself; the engineering category Petitioner worked under was for performance/song, not engineering.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_08_B2203; source_row=25572
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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