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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 14011–14020
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO disagreed with the Director's reliance on the W-2 figure, finding that the Beneficiary did not work for the full year in 2017 so the W-2 did not reflect his actual annual salary. Based on submitted comparative salary data, AAO found the $147,000 annual salary meets this criterion.
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AAO disagreed with the Director's reliance on the W-2 figure, finding that the Beneficiary did not work for the full year in 2017 so the W-2 did not reflect his actual annual salary. Based on submitted comparative salary data, AAO found the $147,000 annual salary meets this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_05_B2203; source_row=24695 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 explicitly declined to conduct a final merits determination because the threshold criteria count was not met, though it noted in dicta that the record does not support a finding of sustained national or international acclaim.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a final merits determination because the threshold criteria count was not met, though it noted in dicta that the record does not support a finding of sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_05_B2203; source_row=24696 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The record shows the Petitioner served as a peer reviewer for journals such as Materials Letters, Materials Chemistry and Physics, and Applied Optics, among others. AAO agreed with the Director that this criterion was satisfied.
Why this is useful
See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.
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The record shows the Petitioner served as a peer reviewer for journals such as Materials Letters, Materials Chemistry and Physics, and Applied Optics, among others. AAO agreed with the Director that this criterion was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_04_B2203; source_row=24687 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The record shows the Petitioner has authored scholarly articles in professional publications. AAO agreed with the Director that this criterion was satisfied.
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 record shows the Petitioner has authored scholarly articles in professional publications. AAO agreed with the Director that this criterion was satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_04_B2203; source_row=24688 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
What the decision said
AAO noted the Director did not make findings on prong one and declined to reach the issue, remanding for the Director to apply the full Dhanasar framework.
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 noted the Director did not make findings on prong one and declined to reach the issue, remanding for the Director to apply the full Dhanasar framework.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_01_B5203; source_row=24666 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance beneficial to waive job offer requirement
What the decision said
AAO found the Director's prong three analysis legally erroneous for applying a non-existent 'substantial impact' standard, and further faulted the Director for ignoring relevant Dhanasar prong-three factors. AAO remanded rather than adjudicating the prong itself.
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 found the Director's prong three analysis legally erroneous for applying a non-existent 'substantial impact' standard, and further faulted the Director for ignoring relevant Dhanasar prong-three factors. AAO remanded rather than adjudicating the prong itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_01_B5203; source_row=24668 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
What the decision said
AAO noted the Director did not make findings on prong two and declined to reach the issue, remanding for the Director to apply the full Dhanasar framework.
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 noted the Director did not make findings on prong two and declined to reach the issue, remanding for the Director to apply the full Dhanasar framework.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_01_B5203; source_row=24667 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
What the decision said
AAO found the Director failed to fully consider the evidence for original contributions, noting the decision referenced only three letters despite the Petitioner's submission of twelve exhibits. AAO also noted a concern that the training manual may not have been published before the petition filing date of January 5, 2018, which must be addressed on remand.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found the Director failed to fully consider the evidence for original contributions, noting the decision referenced only three letters despite the Petitioner's submission of twelve exhibits. AAO also noted a concern that the training manual may not have been published before the petition filing date of January 5, 2018, which must be addressed on remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_01_B2203; source_row=24662 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
published material
What the decision said
AAO found the Director applied an improper standard by categorically discounting online materials and directed the Director on remand to evaluate whether the submitted materials comply with the plain language of the criterion regardless of medium, considering factors such as circulation statistics.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found the Director applied an improper standard by categorically discounting online materials and directed the Director on remand to evaluate whether the submitted materials comply with the plain language of the criterion regardless of medium, considering factors such as circulation statistics.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_01_B2203; source_row=24660 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO did not separately address the leading or critical role criterion, folding it into the general remand for the Director to conduct a complete re-adjudication after issuing a new RFE.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO did not separately address the leading or critical role criterion, folding it into the general remand for the Director to conduct a complete re-adjudication after issuing a new RFE.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_01_B2203; source_row=24663 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c