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 13501–13510

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

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director and further noted the Petitioner served on a doctoral thesis jury and evaluated applications for a ministry award.

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 and further noted the Petitioner served on a doctoral thesis jury and evaluated applications for a ministry award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-20_01_B2203; source_row=25261
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Sufficiency of NOIR evidence supporting revocation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The NOIR was defective because it did not cite the specific derogatory evidence (the president's statement) that the position had been filled, did not specify when the position became unavailable, and thus failed to satisfy Estime's requirement that an NOIR include a specific statement of the supporting evidence.

Why this is useful

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

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The NOIR was defective because it did not cite the specific derogatory evidence (the president's statement) that the position had been filled, did not specify when the position became unavailable, and thus failed to satisfy Estime's requirement that an NOIR include a specific statement of the supporting evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-19_01_B5203; source_row=25259
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted only its 2015 federal tax return, but the priority date is January 12, 2016, and there is no evidence demonstrating the Petitioner's ability to pay the proffered wage of $59,696 in 2016 as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(2).

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner submitted only its 2015 federal tax return, but the priority date is January 12, 2016, and there is no evidence demonstrating the Petitioner's ability to pay the proffered wage of $59,696 in 2016 as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-19_01_B5203; source_row=25260
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the reference letters, citation counts (including self-citations), peer review activities, two email inquiries, and grant funding (where professors were the PIs) insufficient to show a record of success or interest from relevant parties. The Petitioner did not show his work has served as an impetus for progress or generated substantial discourse in the field.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO found the reference letters, citation counts (including self-citations), peer review activities, two email inquiries, and grant funding (where professors were the PIs) insufficient to show a record of success or interest from relevant parties. The Petitioner did not show his work has served as an impetus for progress or generated substantial discourse in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-18_01_B5203; source_row=25257
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed prong 2.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO declined to reach prong 3 because the Petitioner failed prong 2.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-18_01_B5203; source_row=25258
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance based on dissemination of research through engineering journals and conferences.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance based on dissemination of research through engineering journals and conferences.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-18_01_B5203; source_row=25256
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded that while the Petitioner demonstrated sustained acclaim as an athlete through 2014, his coaching career was primarily at a regional level, and the evidence did not show he had sustained his athletic acclaim into his coaching career or that he was among the small percentage at the very top of the field as a coach.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded that while the Petitioner demonstrated sustained acclaim as an athlete through 2014, his coaching career was primarily at a regional level, and the evidence did not show he had sustained his athletic acclaim into his coaching career or that he was among the small percentage at the very top of the field as a coach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-13_03_B2203; source_row=25255
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 found that while the Beneficiary achieved considerable success as a food industry entrepreneur, the submitted letters and media articles did not establish that his contributions rose to the level of major significance in the field as a whole.…

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found that while the Beneficiary achieved considerable success as a food industry entrepreneur, the submitted letters and media articles did not establish that his contributions rose to the level of major significance in the field as a whole. Articles noted competitors in the same space and did not document a remarkable industry-wide impact, and the testimonial letters were too conclusory and hyperbolic to be probative.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-13_02_B2203; source_row=25248
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed with the Director that company-level awards were not the Beneficiary's personal awards. As to the CEO of the Year award, the AAO found the award certificate, blog post, and general information about the awarding entity were insufficient to establish national or international recognition for excellence.…

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO agreed with the Director that company-level awards were not the Beneficiary's personal awards. As to the CEO of the Year award, the AAO found the award certificate, blog post, and general information about the awarding entity were insufficient to establish national or international recognition for excellence. As to the Forbes recognition, the AAO found it was not a 'prize or award' within the plain meaning of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-13_02_B2203; source_row=25245
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

AAO found that employment with one entity and serving as an authorized representative of another are not comparable to qualifying memberships, and the Petitioner did not show the criterion does not readily apply to his occupation.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that employment with one entity and serving as an authorized representative of another are not comparable to qualifying memberships, and the Petitioner did not show the criterion does not readily apply to his occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-13_01_B2203; source_row=25240
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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