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 13521–13530

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

The AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the threshold requirement of three evidentiary criteria, but noted in passing that the aggregate record does not support the required acclaim.

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The AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the threshold requirement of three evidentiary criteria, but noted in passing that the aggregate record does not support the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-13_02_B2203; source_row=25250
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 found the submitted letter merely listed competition events and rankings without attesting to a leading or critical role. The Petitioner did not show how competition results affected the organization in a critical way, did not establish the role and duties associated with the 'national bodybuilding instructor' title, and failed to establish that the organization has a distinguished reputation.

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The AAO found the submitted letter merely listed competition events and rankings without attesting to a leading or critical role. The Petitioner did not show how competition results affected the organization in a critical way, did not establish the role and duties associated with the 'national bodybuilding instructor' title, and failed to establish that the organization has a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_04_B2203; source_row=25237
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 disagreed with the Director on the question of whether the Petitioner received prizes — finding the record as a whole sufficient to establish receipt by a preponderance of the evidence — but agreed the criterion was not met because the Petitioner failed to establish that the prizes are nationally or internationally recognized. The Petitioner did not cite objective evidence of such recognition on appeal.

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The AAO disagreed with the Director on the question of whether the Petitioner received prizes — finding the record as a whole sufficient to establish receipt by a preponderance of the evidence — but agreed the criterion was not met because the Petitioner failed to establish that the prizes are nationally or internationally recognized. The Petitioner did not cite objective evidence of such recognition on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_04_B2203; source_row=25234
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 found the Petitioner is a member of IFBB and its subsidiary, but the record does not establish that those organizations or their teams require outstanding achievement as judged by recognized national or international experts. The president's letter only noted the Petitioner's participation and did not address membership requirements.

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The AAO found the Petitioner is a member of IFBB and its subsidiary, but the record does not establish that those organizations or their teams require outstanding achievement as judged by recognized national or international experts. The president's letter only noted the Petitioner's participation and did not address membership requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_04_B2203; source_row=25235
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 about the alien in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the YouTube channel was not shown to constitute major media and had only 127 views; competition results printouts list many athletes and are not published material about the Petitioner specifically; and the newspaper article does not appear to contain the Petitioner's name and was not fully translated.

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The AAO found the YouTube channel was not shown to constitute major media and had only 127 views; competition results printouts list many athletes and are not published material about the Petitioner specifically; and the newspaper article does not appear to contain the Petitioner's name and was not fully translated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_04_B2203; source_row=25236
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Economics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the 'Diploma of Merit' was issued by a regional authority and was not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized; the 'Innovare Award' lacked evidence of national or international recognition and the record did not show it existed prior to 2010 despite the Petitioner's claim of receiving it in 2005; and other awards were only local or regional accolades.

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AAO found that the 'Diploma of Merit' was issued by a regional authority and was not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized; the 'Innovare Award' lacked evidence of national or international recognition and the record did not show it existed prior to 2010 despite the Petitioner's claim of receiving it in 2005; and other awards were only local or regional accolades.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_02_B2203; source_row=25227
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 did not identify specific contributions attributable to her that were of major significance in the field of classical music. The Gazette article cited on motion did not even refer to the Petitioner and was a sponsored/promotional feature. The record showed no specific reliably attributable 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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The Petitioner did not identify specific contributions attributable to her that were of major significance in the field of classical music. The Gazette article cited on motion did not even refer to the Petitioner and was a sponsored/promotional feature. The record showed no specific reliably attributable contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_03_B2203; source_row=25231
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

AAO distinguished between recognition of the competition itself and recognition of the prizes awarded. The record showed media recognition of the competition as a whole but lacked evidence that prize winners' names were publicly announced or that the prizes themselves were nationally or internationally recognized. Additionally, there was no evidence of how many first prizes were awarded.

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AAO distinguished between recognition of the competition itself and recognition of the prizes awarded. The record showed media recognition of the competition as a whole but lacked evidence that prize winners' names were publicly announced or that the prizes themselves were nationally or internationally recognized. Additionally, there was no evidence of how many first prizes were awarded.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_03_B2203; source_row=25230
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

While the concertmaster role is leading within the orchestra, the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the orchestra itself has a distinguished reputation independent of the larger organization. The Epoch Times articles were not from a disinterested source given its promotional ties to the organization. The Gazette article was a paid sponsored feature. Government proclamations lacked context to establish their weight.…

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While the concertmaster role is leading within the orchestra, the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the orchestra itself has a distinguished reputation independent of the larger organization. The Epoch Times articles were not from a disinterested source given its promotional ties to the organization. The Gazette article was a paid sponsored feature. Government proclamations lacked context to establish their weight. Venue information did not establish the orchestra's reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_03_B2203; source_row=25233
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 conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidentiary threshold. In advisory dicta, AAO noted the record in the aggregate does not support the required showing of acclaim.

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidentiary threshold. In advisory dicta, AAO noted the record in the aggregate does not support the required showing of acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-02-12_04_B2203; source_row=25238
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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