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 14021–14030

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO found the Director erred by excluding the Petitioner's athletic awards from consideration, noting that the AFM permits consideration of athletic acclaim sustained into coaching. AAO agreed with the Director that awards won by coached athletes cannot be treated as comparable evidence without first establishing that the standard criteria do not readily apply, but directed the Director on remand to consider the Petitioner'…

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AAO found the Director erred by excluding the Petitioner's athletic awards from consideration, noting that the AFM permits consideration of athletic acclaim sustained into coaching. AAO agreed with the Director that awards won by coached athletes cannot be treated as comparable evidence without first establishing that the standard criteria do not readily apply, but directed the Director on remand to consider the Petitioner's own athletic prizes and awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_01_B2203; source_row=24659
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical16 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold requirement of three evidentiary criteria, but noted in dicta that the record in aggregate does not support the required acclaim.

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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold requirement of three evidentiary criteria, but noted in dicta that the record in aggregate does not support the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_03_B2203; source_row=24686
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical16 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others in the same or allied field

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the supplemental letter on appeal addressed the Director's concerns, and combined with the existing evidence of Advisory Board membership and a screenshot showing eight judged competitions, the evidence was sufficient to establish this criterion was met.

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

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AAO found the supplemental letter on appeal addressed the Director's concerns, and combined with the existing evidence of Advisory Board membership and a screenshot showing eight judged competitions, the evidence was sufficient to establish this criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_03_B2203; source_row=24683
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical16 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of the individual's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the documentary evidence of screenings at film competitions and festivals supported a finding that this criterion was met.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the documentary evidence of screenings at film competitions and festivals supported a finding that this criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-14_03_B2203; source_row=24684
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 in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the recommendation letters lacked specific examples of contributions at the level of major significance, and the citation evidence showed that others had built upon the Petitioner's work but did not demonstrate a major impact on the overall field. Aggregate citation statistics and publication counts do not establish that any specific work rose to the level 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 AAO found that the recommendation letters lacked specific examples of contributions at the level of major significance, and the citation evidence showed that others had built upon the Petitioner's work but did not demonstrate a major impact on the overall field. Aggregate citation statistics and publication counts do not establish that any specific work rose to the level of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-13_01_B2203; source_row=24654
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

For the ACC, the AAO found that board-certified physician candidates qualify based on board certification alone, not outstanding achievements judged by national or international experts — the more demanding requirements apply only to non-board-certified candidates.…

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For the ACC, the AAO found that board-certified physician candidates qualify based on board certification alone, not outstanding achievements judged by national or international experts — the more demanding requirements apply only to non-board-certified candidates. For the SCAI, the bylaws were vague and did not establish that Fellow membership requires outstanding achievements as judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-13_01_B2203; source_row=24651
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the Petitioner's prior research was focused on different public health topics (CME in Pakistan, polio, weight misperception, thyroidectomy, infectious disease among garbage scavengers) and did not position him to advance his proposed oncology research. The limited time available for research (10%) and the absence of evidence of success or progress in cancer research were also fatal to this prong.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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The AAO found that the Petitioner's prior research was focused on different public health topics (CME in Pakistan, polio, weight misperception, thyroidectomy, infectious disease among garbage scavengers) and did not position him to advance his proposed oncology research. The limited time available for research (10%) and the absence of evidence of success or progress in cancer research were also fatal to this prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-13_01_B5203; source_row=24657
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive job offer and labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the Petitioner had not demonstrated sufficient expertise or a record of success in cancer research, had not shown the national interest in his contributions was sufficiently urgent to warrant foregoing labor certification, and had not demonstrated that the United States would benefit from his contributions assuming other qualified cancer researchers are available.

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See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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The AAO found that the Petitioner had not demonstrated sufficient expertise or a record of success in cancer research, had not shown the national interest in his contributions was sufficiently urgent to warrant foregoing labor certification, and had not demonstrated that the United States would benefit from his contributions assuming other qualified cancer researchers are available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-13_01_B5203; source_row=24658
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed that the Petitioner's authorship of scholarly articles published in journals including The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, American Journal of Cardiology, and Echocardiography satisfied this criterion.

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The AAO agreed that the Petitioner's authorship of scholarly articles published in journals including The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, American Journal of Cardiology, and Echocardiography satisfied this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-13_01_B2203; source_row=24653
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 declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three qualifying criteria. AAO noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support a finding of sustained acclaim.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold of three qualifying criteria. AAO noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support a finding of sustained acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-13_01_B2203; source_row=24655
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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