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.
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Leading / critical role
leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with distinguished reputation
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met criterion viii based on his role as executive chef and documentation of the restaurant's distinguished reputation.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met criterion viii based on his role as executive chef and documentation of the restaurant's distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_18_B2203; source_row=25624 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Final merits
final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim
What the decision said
AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold of three criteria, but noted in dicta that the record does not show the required 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 Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold of three criteria, but noted in dicta that the record does not show the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_18_B2203; source_row=25627 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Computer Science / AIEngineer
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
What the decision said
AAO declined to revisit this criterion because even accepting the Director's favorable finding, the Petitioner still could not meet the three-criterion threshold once the leading/critical role criterion was found not met.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO declined to revisit this criterion because even accepting the Director's favorable finding, the Petitioner still could not meet the three-criterion threshold once the leading/critical role criterion was found not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_10_B2203; source_row=25581 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Computer Science / AIEngineer
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high remuneration for services
What the decision said
AAO declined to revisit this criterion because even accepting the Director's favorable finding, the Petitioner still could not meet the three-criterion threshold.
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 revisit this criterion because even accepting the Director's favorable finding, the Petitioner still could not meet the three-criterion threshold.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_10_B2203; source_row=25583 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed that the Petitioner's service as a judge at regional dance competitions satisfies the plain wording of the regulation, noting that scope and reputation of those competitions would be relevant at the final merits stage.
Why this is useful
See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.
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AAO agreed that the Petitioner's service as a judge at regional dance competitions satisfies the plain wording of the regulation, noting that scope and reputation of those competitions would be relevant at the final merits stage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_16_B2203; source_row=25612 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 formally reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not clear the step-one threshold, but provided an advisory observation that the record would not support the required showing of sustained national or international acclaim.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO formally reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not clear the step-one threshold, but provided an advisory observation that the record would not support the required showing of sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_16_B2203; source_row=25615 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO disagreed with the Director's conflation of criteria (vii) and (x), finding that criterion (x) covers commercial success rather than mere participation, so performance-as-display under criterion (vii) does not make the two criteria indistinguishable. AAO found that the Petitioner's co-choreographed work was selected by an externally curated event with competitive entrance requirements, satisfying this criterion.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO disagreed with the Director's conflation of criteria (vii) and (x), finding that criterion (x) covers commercial success rather than mere participation, so performance-as-display under criterion (vii) does not make the two criteria indistinguishable. AAO found that the Petitioner's co-choreographed work was selected by an externally curated event with competitive entrance requirements, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-23_16_B2203; source_row=25613 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c