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 13791–13800

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering9 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although not required to reach a final merits determination after finding the Petitioner met fewer than three criteria, AAO reviewed the record in the aggregate and found it does not establish sustained national or international acclaim or placement at the very top of the field.

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Although not required to reach a final merits determination after finding the Petitioner met fewer than three criteria, AAO reviewed the record in the aggregate and found it does not establish sustained national or international acclaim or placement at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-06_02_B2203; source_row=24930
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Social SciencesPhD14 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The expert and colleague letters were insufficiently specific to establish that the Petitioner's contributions had a major impact on the overall field. Citation counts were not shown to be commensurate with major significance. Conference presentations, research funding, and the app pilot program did not establish widespread field-level influence.

Why this is useful

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

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The expert and colleague letters were insufficiently specific to establish that the Petitioner's contributions had a major impact on the overall field. Citation counts were not shown to be commensurate with major significance. Conference presentations, research funding, and the app pilot program did not establish widespread field-level influence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-06_01_B2203; source_row=24923
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering9 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the Petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional publications, satisfying this criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional publications, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-06_02_B2203; source_row=24929
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering9 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the record reflects that the Petitioner reviewed papers for journals, satisfying this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the record reflects that the Petitioner reviewed papers for journals, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-06_02_B2203; source_row=24927
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

notice of filing of labor certification

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the notice-of-filing issue because ability to pay was dispositive.

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AAO declined to reach the notice-of-filing issue because ability to pay was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-06_01_B5203; source_row=24926
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay the proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted a de novo review of tax returns and Sonegawa totality factors and concluded the Petitioner did not establish ability to pay the $80,000 proffered wage from the 2016 priority date onward.

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AAO conducted a de novo review of tax returns and Sonegawa totality factors and concluded the Petitioner did not establish ability to pay the $80,000 proffered wage from the 2016 priority date onward.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-06_01_B5203; source_row=24925
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesPhD14 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner has authored scholarly articles in professional publications, satisfying this criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The Petitioner has authored scholarly articles in professional publications, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-01-06_01_B2203; source_row=24922
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's finding, citing the USCIS Policy Memorandum's definition of scholarly articles as original research or expert writing for learned persons in the field. The Petitioner's articles in Data Driven Investor appear to be blog posts offering general personnel advice to entrepreneurs, not scholarly articles.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO affirmed the Director's finding, citing the USCIS Policy Memorandum's definition of scholarly articles as original research or expert writing for learned persons in the field. The Petitioner's articles in Data Driven Investor appear to be blog posts offering general personnel advice to entrepreneurs, not scholarly articles.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-12-30_01_B2203; source_row=24917
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in qualifying associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

While AAO agreed the program is not a course of instruction, the Petitioner failed to submit documentary evidence that he is a member of the program or to establish the membership requirements. Program officials only described him as a participant in events or programs, not a member of an association.…

Why this is useful

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

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While AAO agreed the program is not a course of instruction, the Petitioner failed to submit documentary evidence that he is a member of the program or to establish the membership requirements. Program officials only described him as a participant in events or programs, not a member of an association. The Ambassador Program also was not shown to be an independent association with members chosen by national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-12-30_01_B2203; source_row=24913
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO stated it need not provide a formal final merits determination since the Petitioner failed to meet three criteria, but noted in the aggregate the record does not support a finding of sustained acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO stated it need not provide a formal final merits determination since the Petitioner failed to meet three criteria, but noted in the aggregate the record does not support a finding of sustained acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-12-30_01_B2203; source_row=24920
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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