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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 131140

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the Beneficiary performed in a critical role for a company with distinguished reputation, based on revenue increase, patient expansion, and unique educational certification.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the Beneficiary performed in a critical role for a company with distinguished reputation, based on revenue increase, patient expansion, and unique educational certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-19_02_B2203; source_row=45102
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record showed the Beneficiary participated as a judge of others' work in his field, citing his role as an official examiner evaluating residents and participating in oral defenses of theses, analogous to serving on a Ph.D. dissertation committee.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the record showed the Beneficiary participated as a judge of others' work in his field, citing his role as an official examiner evaluating residents and participating in oral defenses of theses, analogous to serving on a Ph.D. dissertation committee.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-19_02_B2203; source_row=45099
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary

What the decision said

AAO declined to address the high salary criterion because the Petitioner already satisfied the required three criteria, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declined to address the high salary criterion because the Petitioner already satisfied the required three criteria, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-19_02_B2203; source_row=45103
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb SCOPS's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not disturb SCOPS's determination that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-19_02_B2203; source_row=45101
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with SCOPS that the Petitioner's book and blogs do not qualify as scholarly articles, but found that his peer-reviewed journal articles on AI, cloud computing, and software engineering, published in professional journals for learned persons in the field, did satisfy criterion (vi).

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with SCOPS that the Petitioner's book and blogs do not qualify as scholarly articles, but found that his peer-reviewed journal articles on AI, cloud computing, and software engineering, published in professional journals for learned persons in the field, did satisfy criterion (vi).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=45092
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

official academic record relating to the area of exceptional ability (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agrees the architecture degree is not in the area of exceptional ability (tattoo artistry) and the additional certificates are not shown to be from colleges, universities, schools, or comparable institutions of learning.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agrees the architecture degree is not in the area of exceptional ability (tattoo artistry) and the additional certificates are not shown to be from colleges, universities, schools, or comparable institutions of learning.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-18_01_B5203; source_row=45082
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in a professional association (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdraws SCOPS' favorable finding because the record does not establish that APT membership requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent, as APT admits licensed tattoo artists, apprentices, suppliers, and others without that requirement.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO withdraws SCOPS' favorable finding because the record does not establish that APT membership requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent, as APT admits licensed tattoo artists, apprentices, suppliers, and others without that requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-18_01_B5203; source_row=45083
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(F))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes the convention awards demonstrate personal achievements but not significant contributions to the tattoo industry, and the recommendation letters describe the Petitioner's impact on specific employers rather than the industry as a whole.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO concludes the convention awards demonstrate personal achievements but not significant contributions to the tattoo industry, and the recommendation letters describe the Petitioner's impact on specific employers rather than the industry as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-18_01_B5203; source_row=45084
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

AAO agreed with the Petitioner that SCOPS conflated this analysis with contributions, but on de novo review concluded the Petitioner failed to establish that the Paid Media Acquisition Department—the relevant division—has a distinguished reputation, and that some submitted evidence post-dated the filing date or did not mention the company.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Petitioner that SCOPS conflated this analysis with contributions, but on de novo review concluded the Petitioner failed to establish that the Paid Media Acquisition Department—the relevant division—has a distinguished reputation, and that some submitted evidence post-dated the filing date or did not mention the company.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-17_03_B2203; source_row=45079
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with SCOPS, finding that while the Petitioner's $264,000 base salary slightly exceeded the BLS 90th-percentile threshold for marketing managers, she failed to provide supporting evidence comparing her total remuneration to other executives or senior marketing managers in her geographic area.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO disagreed with SCOPS, finding that while the Petitioner's $264,000 base salary slightly exceeded the BLS 90th-percentile threshold for marketing managers, she failed to provide supporting evidence comparing her total remuneration to other executives or senior marketing managers in her geographic area.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-17_03_B2203; source_row=45080
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment