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 14111–14120

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical43 papers

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 the initial evidence threshold, but noted in the aggregate the record would not support the required finding.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed the initial evidence threshold, but noted in the aggregate the record would not support the required finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-25_01_B2203; source_row=24570
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical43 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the Director and found that the Petitioner documented co-authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications, including the Institute of Dentistry's journal Clinical Dentistry, 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 disagreed with the Director and found that the Petitioner documented co-authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications, including the Institute of Dentistry's journal Clinical Dentistry, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-25_01_B2203; source_row=24569
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences1,066 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion based on 29 peer-reviewed articles and 2 book chapters.

Why this is useful

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion based on 29 peer-reviewed articles and 2 book chapters.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-23_01_B2203; source_row=24562
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences1,066 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion based on peer review and editorial board work.

Why this is useful

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion based on peer review and editorial board work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-23_01_B2203; source_row=24560
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences1,066 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that citation counts were not sufficient to establish individual acclaim because many highly-cited papers were consortium works with dozens of authors, citations were often passing references rather than highlighting the Petitioner's work specifically, and the editorial board membership lacked evidence of selectivity.…

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AAO found that citation counts were not sufficient to establish individual acclaim because many highly-cited papers were consortium works with dozens of authors, citations were often passing references rather than highlighting the Petitioner's work specifically, and the editorial board membership lacked evidence of selectivity. The record showed the Petitioner's work was well received but did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim placing him at the very top of his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-23_01_B2203; source_row=24563
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer

Why the evidence was persuasive

Given the appeal was sustained under the Dhanasar framework, AAO found the third prong met. The detailed analysis is not visible in the provided excerpt.

Why this is useful

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

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Given the appeal was sustained under the Dhanasar framework, AAO found the third prong met. The detailed analysis is not visible in the provided excerpt.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-23_01_B5203; source_row=24566
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the proposed research has substantial merit and national importance, citing letters from FDA and industry experts and dissemination through journals and conferences.

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 agreed with the Director that the proposed research has substantial merit and national importance, citing letters from FDA and industry experts and dissemination through journals and conferences.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-23_01_B5203; source_row=24564
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found Petitioner well positioned, citing specific FDA and industry expert letters describing how his discoveries about pathogen attachment to dust, phenotypic states, and detection assays have been integrated into FDA guidance and industry practice.

Why this is useful

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AAO found Petitioner well positioned, citing specific FDA and industry expert letters describing how his discoveries about pathogen attachment to dust, phenotypic states, and detection assays have been integrated into FDA guidance and industry practice.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-23_01_B5203; source_row=24565
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 for distinguished organization

Why AAO was not persuaded

The management agreement was executed in January 2018, after the petition's initial filing, and therefore could not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Even setting timing aside, being a contracted artist does not show a leading or critical role within an organization, the company's distinguished reputation was not independently corroborated, and a play does not qualify as an 'organization or establishment' under t…

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The management agreement was executed in January 2018, after the petition's initial filing, and therefore could not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Even setting timing aside, being a contracted artist does not show a leading or critical role within an organization, the company's distinguished reputation was not independently corroborated, and a play does not qualify as an 'organization or establishment' under the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-22_01_B2203; source_row=24551
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The article was about a play, not about the Petitioner, and she was only mentioned once among several actors. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to identify the author of the article, and did not demonstrate that broadwayworld.com qualifies as a major medium.

Why this is useful

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The article was about a play, not about the Petitioner, and she was only mentioned once among several actors. Additionally, the Petitioner failed to identify the author of the article, and did not demonstrate that broadwayworld.com qualifies as a major medium.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-22_01_B2203; source_row=24549
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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