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 13281–13290

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The evidence cited was previously submitted with the initial filing and thus is not new. Reference to other previously submitted evidence does not meet the motion-to-reopen requirements.

Why this is useful

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The evidence cited was previously submitted with the initial filing and thus is not new. Reference to other previously submitted evidence does not meet the motion-to-reopen requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_05_B2203; source_row=25521
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

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

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director acknowledged the Petitioner authored scholarly articles but found no proof of publication in qualifying media, and improperly compared citation counts. AAO found that the publications—including articles in professional magazines and conference proceedings, as well as books and book chapters—qualify as professional or major trade publications, and withdrew the Director's finding.

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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The Director acknowledged the Petitioner authored scholarly articles but found no proof of publication in qualifying media, and improperly compared citation counts. AAO found that the publications—including articles in professional magazines and conference proceedings, as well as books and book chapters—qualify as professional or major trade publications, and withdrew the Director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_01_B2203; source_row=25505
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 Petitioner claimed to meet this criterion on appeal; AAO did not explicitly reverse the Director's finding and ultimately found the overall petition failed at the final merits stage, implicitly affirming the Director's conclusion that this criterion was not independently established.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner claimed to meet this criterion on appeal; AAO did not explicitly reverse the Director's finding and ultimately found the overall petition failed at the final merits stage, implicitly affirming the Director's conclusion that this criterion was not independently established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_01_B2203; source_row=25508
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 — sustained national/international acclaim, top of field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that although the Petitioner is an active and productive researcher and practitioner, the evidence does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that she is among the small percentage at the very top of her field. Publication impact, reference letters, exhibition activity, and project contributions all fell short of establishing the required level of recognition.

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

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AAO found that although the Petitioner is an active and productive researcher and practitioner, the evidence does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that she is among the small percentage at the very top of her field. Publication impact, reference letters, exhibition activity, and project contributions all fell short of establishing the required level of recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_01_B2203; source_row=25509
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the merits of this criterion; it remanded so the Director could analyze the new evidence under § 204.5(h)(3)(v) consistent with Kazarian's two-part review.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not reach the merits of this criterion; it remanded so the Director could analyze the new evidence under § 204.5(h)(3)(v) consistent with Kazarian's two-part review.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_04_B2203; source_row=25518
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

What the decision said

AAO noted the Director had found this criterion met but did not revisit it; the issue was not at issue on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO noted the Director had found this criterion met but did not revisit it; the issue was not at issue on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_04_B2203; source_row=25519
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation

What the decision said

AAO noted the Director had found this criterion met but did not revisit it.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO noted the Director had found this criterion met but did not revisit it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_04_B2203; source_row=25520
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for a distinguished organization

Why the evidence was persuasive

The evidence establishes that the Petitioner, as founder, performed a leading role, and media reports demonstrate the club enjoys a distinguished reputation.

Why this is useful

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The evidence establishes that the Petitioner, as founder, performed a leading role, and media reports demonstrate the club enjoys a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_02_B2203; source_row=25513
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold three-criteria requirement, but noted in dicta that the record does not support a finding of the required sustained national or international acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold three-criteria requirement, but noted in dicta that the record does not support a finding of the required sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_02_B2203; source_row=25514
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

While many translations were incomplete and many articles were posted on sub-pages of portals without sufficient evidence of their status as major media, at least some articles — such as an interview posted on autohome.com.cn — were sufficiently shown to have been published in major media.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
While many translations were incomplete and many articles were posted on sub-pages of portals without sufficient evidence of their status as major media, at least some articles — such as an interview posted on autohome.com.cn — were sufficiently shown to have been published in major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-04-06_02_B2203; source_row=25510
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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