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 13461–13470

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed with the Director that the Brazilian competition medals were not sufficiently corroborated, noting inconsistencies in testimonial evidence and lack of official results.…

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The AAO agreed with the Director that the Brazilian competition medals were not sufficiently corroborated, noting inconsistencies in testimonial evidence and lack of official results. However, the AAO found the Petitioner's 2016 first-place finish in an international ocean rowing race satisfied the criterion based on official race results, letters from US Rowing and The Rowing Society, and extensive international media coverage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-27_01_B2203; source_row=25309
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold of at least three criteria.

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AAO declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence threshold of at least three criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-27_01_B2203; source_row=25313
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letters confirming employment did not demonstrate that the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role, as they only briefly described projects without providing specific, detailed information about how her roles were leading or critical. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to show that the organizations have a distinguished reputation, as mere website addresses are insufficient.

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The letters confirming employment did not demonstrate that the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role, as they only briefly described projects without providing specific, detailed information about how her roles were leading or critical. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to show that the organizations have a distinguished reputation, as mere website addresses are insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-26_01_B2203; source_row=25303
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Dawn Images material was a photoshoot rather than published material about the Petitioner relating to her work; the author of the designer's profile section was not established; the Petitioner failed to provide evidence that Dawn Images qualifies as a professional or major trade publication or other major medium.…

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The Dawn Images material was a photoshoot rather than published material about the Petitioner relating to her work; the author of the designer's profile section was not established; the Petitioner failed to provide evidence that Dawn Images qualifies as a professional or major trade publication or other major medium. The MAG the Weekly article covered a fashion show rather than being about the Petitioner, and self-promotional publisher claims were insufficient to establish major medium status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-26_01_B2203; source_row=25300
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the judging criterion, as the record reflects she served as a jury member evaluating student fashion designs and theses.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the judging criterion, as the record reflects she served as a jury member evaluating student fashion designs and theses.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-26_01_B2203; source_row=25301
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in advisory fashion that the record does not support a finding of sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in advisory fashion that the record does not support a finding of sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-26_01_B2203; source_row=25304
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

artistic display

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the artistic display criterion, as the record reflects she displayed her work at fashion shows.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the artistic display criterion, as the record reflects she displayed her work at fashion shows.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-26_01_B2203; source_row=25302
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringPhD19 papers12 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director gave insufficient weight to expert letters, and that the record—including letters from independent researchers, evidence of improved performance from 20% to 96% material efficiency, and evidence that researchers at other laboratories relied on and built upon the Petitioner's published work—established original contributions of 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 found the Director gave insufficient weight to expert letters, and that the record—including letters from independent researchers, evidence of improved performance from 20% to 96% material efficiency, and evidence that researchers at other laboratories relied on and built upon the Petitioner's published work—established original contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-26_02_B2203; source_row=25306
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringPhD19 papers12 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found acclaim resided with the laboratory rather than the Petitioner individually; citation statistics did not show him meeting Thomson Reuters' definition of 'highly cited'; peer review was routine and not indicative of top-of-field standing; and citing articles did not specifically endorse his work in the manner claimed.

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AAO found acclaim resided with the laboratory rather than the Petitioner individually; citation statistics did not show him meeting Thomson Reuters' definition of 'highly cited'; peer review was routine and not indicative of top-of-field standing; and citing articles did not specifically endorse his work in the manner claimed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-26_02_B2203; source_row=25308
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

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

Expert letters lacked specificity about how the Beneficiary's approach broadly impacted the field. Documentary evidence did not isolate his role or show wide implementation of his methods. Publications and presentations were not shown to have major significance. Media quotes did not demonstrate wide implementation of his methods.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Expert letters lacked specificity about how the Beneficiary's approach broadly impacted the field. Documentary evidence did not isolate his role or show wide implementation of his methods. Publications and presentations were not shown to have major significance. Media quotes did not demonstrate wide implementation of his methods.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-25_02_B2203; source_row=25292
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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