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 13761–13770

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

What the decision said

AAO noted in a footnote that the Petitioner does not specifically claim this criterion; while letters and a website printout reference his adjudicator work, the record does not directly document this activity or any specific occasion on which he served in that capacity.

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AAO noted in a footnote that the Petitioner does not specifically claim this criterion; while letters and a website printout reference his adjudicator work, the record does not directly document this activity or any specific occasion on which he served in that capacity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-09_02_B2203; source_row=24967
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

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 step one, but noted in the aggregate the record does not support the required acclaim.

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed step one, but noted in the aggregate the record does not support the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-09_02_B2203; source_row=24968
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted the Director's grant of this criterion without further discussion.

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AAO accepted the Director's grant of this criterion without further discussion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-09_02_B2203; source_row=24965
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 – sustained national or international acclaim

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold evidentiary requirement of at least three criteria, but noted in passing that the record would not support the required finding.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold evidentiary requirement of at least three criteria, but noted in passing that the record would not support the required finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-09_03_B2203; source_row=24975
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 individual in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Korean-language articles lacked properly certified translations (a single blanket certification did not accompany each document). English-language articles lacked supporting evidence of major/trade publication status. Forbes and Vanity Fair articles were about the series, not the Petitioner. The Who's Who certificate was undated and lacked proof of publication prior to filing.

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Korean-language articles lacked properly certified translations (a single blanket certification did not accompany each document). English-language articles lacked supporting evidence of major/trade publication status. Forbes and Vanity Fair articles were about the series, not the Petitioner. The Who's Who certificate was undated and lacked proof of publication prior to filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-09_03_B2203; source_row=24971
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

Lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner met this criterion based on his actual receipt of the Annie Award, which was well-documented in the record including a photograph of the engraved award and official results. However, his Emmy nomination (not a receipt), and series-level awards (where individual receipt was not proven) did not independently satisfy the criterion.

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AAO found the Petitioner met this criterion based on his actual receipt of the Annie Award, which was well-documented in the record including a photograph of the engraved award and official results. However, his Emmy nomination (not a receipt), and series-level awards (where individual receipt was not proven) did not independently satisfy the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-09_03_B2203; source_row=24970
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

Leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that as founder, owner, and CEO of his animation studios in Korea and the United States, the Petitioner plays a leading role for those organizations, and that the studios have a distinguished reputation evidenced by partnerships with Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, Netflix, and Riot Games. Government appointments and the Nickelodeon series role did not independently satisfy the criterion.

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AAO found that as founder, owner, and CEO of his animation studios in Korea and the United States, the Petitioner plays a leading role for those organizations, and that the studios have a distinguished reputation evidenced by partnerships with Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, Netflix, and Riot Games. Government appointments and the Nickelodeon series role did not independently satisfy the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-09_03_B2203; source_row=24973
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other10 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the director's finding because the record contained only a letter stating the Petitioner became a certified judge in 2015, with no additional evidence of judging credentials and no evidence that she had actually participated as a judge at any competition or event as of the filing date.

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AAO withdrew the director's finding because the record contained only a letter stating the Petitioner became a certified judge in 2015, with no additional evidence of judging credentials and no evidence that she had actually participated as a judge at any competition or event as of the filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-08_02_B2203; source_row=24955
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other10 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the originally submitted articles were deficient for various reasons but found that the Milenio and Media Tiempo articles submitted on motion, accompanied by full English translations and supporting evidence of their status as major media, satisfied this criterion.

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AAO agreed the originally submitted articles were deficient for various reasons but found that the Milenio and Media Tiempo articles submitted on motion, accompanied by full English translations and supporting evidence of their status as major media, satisfied this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-08_02_B2203; source_row=24954
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other10 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that mere national team membership or elite-level federation registration does not satisfy the criterion, but found that her membership specifically on the senior Mexican national teams that competed at the Championships in 2009, 2010, and 2011 did satisfy it, based on a detailed explanation of the selection process from the national federation president.

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AAO agreed that mere national team membership or elite-level federation registration does not satisfy the criterion, but found that her membership specifically on the senior Mexican national teams that competed at the Championships in 2009, 2010, and 2011 did satisfy it, based on a detailed explanation of the selection process from the national federation president.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-08_02_B2203; source_row=24953
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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