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 13421–13430

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

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The certificates named a company (not the Petitioner) as the award recipient, there were discrepancies about which company employed the Petitioner and which received the awards, and the Petitioner's limited experience at hiring made the reference letters' claims about his leading role not credible.

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The certificates named a company (not the Petitioner) as the award recipient, there were discrepancies about which company employed the Petitioner and which received the awards, and the Petitioner's limited experience at hiring made the reference letters' claims about his leading role not credible.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_01_B2203; source_row=25333
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner established a leading role at one organization, that organization's evidence (a AAA credit rating and ISO certifications) did not demonstrate a distinguished reputation in the construction industry. Evidence for the other organizations was insufficient or undermined by credibility issues.

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AAO found that while the Petitioner established a leading role at one organization, that organization's evidence (a AAA credit rating and ISO certifications) did not demonstrate a distinguished reputation in the construction industry. Evidence for the other organizations was insufficient or undermined by credibility issues.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_01_B2203; source_row=25336
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, in relation to others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The salary survey data showed comparable or higher salaries for similarly positioned professionals, and two of the four minimum salary figures from the most reliable source already exceeded the Petitioner's base salary. The executive compensation comparison was undermined by the exclusion of stock compensation values.

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The salary survey data showed comparable or higher salaries for similarly positioned professionals, and two of the four minimum salary figures from the most reliable source already exceeded the Petitioner's base salary. The executive compensation comparison was undermined by the exclusion of stock compensation values.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_01_B2203; source_row=25337
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The reference letters lacked credibility given prior inconsistencies, and the government regulations themselves stated they were based on widespread international standards and industry practice rather than the Petitioner's specific contributions. No corroborating technical documentation linked the Petitioner to the regulatory revisions.

Why this is useful

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

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The reference letters lacked credibility given prior inconsistencies, and the government regulations themselves stated they were based on widespread international standards and industry practice rather than the Petitioner's specific contributions. No corroborating technical documentation linked the Petitioner to the regulatory revisions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_01_B2203; source_row=25335
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other200 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim at the very top of the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's final merits denial, finding: the citation-based statistical argument rested on unproven assumptions; peer review does not reflect sustained acclaim; pharmaceutical interest is undercut by four independent concurrent discoverers; the expert letters and review article citations do not suffice for 'extensive documentation'; and the Petitioner's most-cited work was from 12 years before filing, under…

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

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AAO affirmed the Director's final merits denial, finding: the citation-based statistical argument rested on unproven assumptions; peer review does not reflect sustained acclaim; pharmaceutical interest is undercut by four independent concurrent discoverers; the expert letters and review article citations do not suffice for 'extensive documentation'; and the Petitioner's most-cited work was from 12 years before filing, undermining 'sustained' acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_02_B2203; source_row=25342
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 AAO found the award was internal to the employer and not itself nationally or internationally recognized. International activity by the company does not make an internal employee award internationally recognized. The Petitioner only repeated prior appellate arguments without addressing the AAO's stated reasoning.

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The AAO found the award was internal to the employer and not itself nationally or internationally recognized. International activity by the company does not make an internal employee award internationally recognized. The Petitioner only repeated prior appellate arguments without addressing the AAO's stated reasoning.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_03_B2203; source_row=25343
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 or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO had previously found the employer letters confirmed employment but did not demonstrate a leading or critical role, and did not show the companies had a distinguished reputation. On motion the Petitioner repeated prior arguments and added only a general statement that did not identify any specific error of law or policy.

Why this is useful

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The AAO had previously found the employer letters confirmed employment but did not demonstrate a leading or critical role, and did not show the companies had a distinguished reputation. On motion the Petitioner repeated prior arguments and added only a general statement that did not identify any specific error of law or policy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_03_B2203; source_row=25347
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO had previously identified deficiencies in the salary letter and found the Petitioner did not provide comparative wage data for other testing engineers. On motion the Petitioner repeated the same appellate brief arguments without addressing those deficiencies.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO had previously identified deficiencies in the salary letter and found the Petitioner did not provide comparative wage data for other testing engineers. On motion the Petitioner repeated the same appellate brief arguments without addressing those deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_03_B2203; source_row=25348
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 AAO had previously found that PSME membership was open to all qualifying professional engineers who registered and paid fees, and that membership was not judged by recognized national or international experts. On motion the Petitioner repeated prior arguments without addressing those findings.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO had previously found that PSME membership was open to all qualifying professional engineers who registered and paid fees, and that membership was not judged by recognized national or international experts. On motion the Petitioner repeated prior arguments without addressing those findings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_03_B2203; source_row=25344
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 AAO had previously found the reference letters praised the Petitioner's personal and job abilities but did not identify original contributions or explain their major significance. On motion the Petitioner again used language from the appellate brief and did not address the AAO's prior discussion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO had previously found the reference letters praised the Petitioner's personal and job abilities but did not identify original contributions or explain their major significance. On motion the Petitioner again used language from the appellate brief and did not address the AAO's prior discussion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-03-05_03_B2203; source_row=25346
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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