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 14481–14490

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the awards demonstrated excellence in the field but failed to establish national or international recognition, as all corroborating evidence originated from the awarding association itself with no evidence of broader recognition in the professional community or general public.

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AAO found the awards demonstrated excellence in the field but failed to establish national or international recognition, as all corroborating evidence originated from the awarding association itself with no evidence of broader recognition in the professional community or general public.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_02_B2203; source_row=24131
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 organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director, finding that the stature of letter writers is not relevant to the Petitioner's own role within the organizations, and that the letters praised his talent but did not suggest he played a leading or critical role. Additionally, one organization did not establish a distinguished reputation.

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AAO agreed with the Director, finding that the stature of letter writers is not relevant to the Petitioner's own role within the organizations, and that the letters praised his talent but did not suggest he played a leading or critical role. Additionally, one organization did not establish a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_02_B2203; source_row=24134
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 about the individual in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the magazine article and website materials were about the exhibitions generally, not about the Petitioner specifically, as individual team members were not named—only the company name appeared.

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AAO found the magazine article and website materials were about the exhibitions generally, not about the Petitioner specifically, as individual team members were not named—only the company name appeared.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_02_B2203; source_row=24132
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager25 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters' description of the award as 'prestigious' did not show the field recognizes it as a national or international award for excellence, and government sponsorship by Nepal's Ministry of Tourism does not automatically demonstrate national recognition in the field.

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AAO found the letters' description of the award as 'prestigious' did not show the field recognizes it as a national or international award for excellence, and government sponsorship by Nepal's Ministry of Tourism does not automatically demonstrate national recognition in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_01_B2203; source_row=24125
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AComparable evidenceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager25 papers

Issue evaluated

Comparable evidence

comparable evidence under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(4)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held the Petitioner did not show the listed criteria do not readily apply to his occupation; in fact, he claimed three criteria without comparable evidence and did not show Sherpas cannot present evidence under criteria such as memberships, judging, or high salary.

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AAO held the Petitioner did not show the listed criteria do not readily apply to his occupation; in fact, he claimed three criteria without comparable evidence and did not show Sherpas cannot present evidence under criteria such as memberships, judging, or high salary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_01_B2203; source_row=24124
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager25 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the aggregate record did not show the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field with sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO found the aggregate record did not show the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field with sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_01_B2203; source_row=24129
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager25 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the supporting letters made broad, conclusory statements without identifying specific contributions or showing how they were already considered majorly significant in the field; speculation about future filmmaking impact, individual humanitarian acts, and unspecified rescue work did not establish field-wide impact.

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 supporting letters made broad, conclusory statements without identifying specific contributions or showing how they were already considered majorly significant in the field; speculation about future filmmaking impact, individual humanitarian acts, and unspecified rescue work did not establish field-wide impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_01_B2203; source_row=24127
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

What the decision said

AAO did not make a distinct ruling on criterion (iii) at step 1, instead finding the original contributions criterion (v) sufficient to reach the required three criteria without needing to separately resolve (iii).

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AAO did not make a distinct ruling on criterion (iii) at step 1, instead finding the original contributions criterion (v) sufficient to reach the required three criteria without needing to separately resolve (iii).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_03_B2203; source_row=24140
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner fulfilled the scholarly articles criterion, noting her articles in professional journals such as Clinical Cancer Research and Neoplasia.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner fulfilled the scholarly articles criterion, noting her articles in professional journals such as Clinical Cancer Research and Neoplasia.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_03_B2203; source_row=24143
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the totality of evidence — including innovative SHG microscopy contributions, high citation rates, adoption of methods by international research teams, NIH grant co-investigatorship, extensive judging activities, and expert attestations to her field-leading status — demonstrates sustained national and international acclaim and that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of her field.

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 totality of evidence — including innovative SHG microscopy contributions, high citation rates, adoption of methods by international research teams, NIH grant co-investigatorship, extensive judging activities, and expert attestations to her field-leading status — demonstrates sustained national and international acclaim and that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-06-25_03_B2203; source_row=24144
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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