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 14731–14740

EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics5 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the scholarly articles criterion by authoring articles in professional publications.

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 +
The AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the scholarly articles criterion by authoring articles in professional publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-24_01_B2203; source_row=23882
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Director analyzed the wrong year (2017) when the priority date fell in 2018; evidence for 2018 was not yet available, so remand is required for the Director to obtain and evaluate the correct year's financials under the totality-of-circumstances standard.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Director analyzed the wrong year (2017) when the priority date fell in 2018; evidence for 2018 was not yet available, so remand is required for the Director to obtain and evaluate the correct year's financials under the totality-of-circumstances standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-24_01_B5203; source_row=23885
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director's final merits assessment legally deficient for failing to consider the totality of the evidence—it addressed only the judging criterion, contradicted its own step-1 findings, applied step-1 analytical questions at step-2, and offered unexplained conclusions. Remand was required for a proper assessment.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Director's final merits assessment legally deficient for failing to consider the totality of the evidence—it addressed only the judging criterion, contradicted its own step-1 findings, applied step-1 analytical questions at step-2, and offered unexplained conclusions. Remand was required for a proper assessment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-23_01_B2203; source_row=23876
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the employer letter documented at least five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in information technology management, satisfying the regulatory standard for equivalency to a master's degree under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the employer letter documented at least five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in information technology management, satisfying the regulatory standard for equivalency to a master's degree under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-23_01_B5203; source_row=23877
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 Petitioner did not identify a specific original artistic contribution. The management contract did not constitute a contribution to the music industry. Reference letters attested to her skills as a performer but did not identify specific original contributions of major significance or explain how they influenced the field.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not identify a specific original artistic contribution. The management contract did not constitute a contribution to the music industry. Reference letters attested to her skills as a performer but did not identify specific original contributions of major significance or explain how they influenced the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-22_01_B2203; source_row=23868
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

The First Prize certificate was incomplete and the supporting website related to a different festival. The Best Female Interpretation award did not clearly indicate it was a top prize. The Summer Hits and Public Prize certificates lacked evidence of criteria. The last three certificates related to participation in festivals as presenter/coordinator, not excellence as a singer.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The First Prize certificate was incomplete and the supporting website related to a different festival. The Best Female Interpretation award did not clearly indicate it was a top prize. The Summer Hits and Public Prize certificates lacked evidence of criteria. The last three certificates related to participation in festivals as presenter/coordinator, not excellence as a singer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-22_01_B2203; source_row=23864
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

The first association's letter did not detail membership requirements or the judging process. The second organization was described as 'more of a social organization' and not shown to be an association for singers requiring outstanding achievements.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The first association's letter did not detail membership requirements or the judging process. The second organization was described as 'more of a social organization' and not shown to be an association for singers requiring outstanding achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-22_01_B2203; source_row=23865
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial successes in the performing arts

Why AAO was not persuaded

The management contract letter was not properly translated and its value did not match the types of evidence specified in the criterion. The YouTube subscriber count was attributable to a channel, not solely to the Petitioner. Video views and streaming numbers did not demonstrate monetary value or commercial success analogous to box office receipts or record sales.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The management contract letter was not properly translated and its value did not match the types of evidence specified in the criterion. The YouTube subscriber count was attributable to a channel, not solely to the Petitioner. Video views and streaming numbers did not demonstrate monetary value or commercial success analogous to box office receipts or record sales.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-22_01_B2203; source_row=23871
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others in the same or an allied field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letter established that the Petitioner judged a beauty competition, not a singing competition. The contestants were not shown to be singers or to have been judged on their work as singers.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The letter established that the Petitioner judged a beauty competition, not a singing competition. The contestants were not shown to be singers or to have been judged on their work as singers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-22_01_B2203; source_row=23867
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 in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Some articles were incomplete or lacked required date/author/publication information. Some articles focused on the Petitioner's personal life rather than her work as a singer. The circulation, web traffic, and social media follower figures were raw numbers not compared to other Albanian publications and were insufficient to demonstrate major media status.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Some articles were incomplete or lacked required date/author/publication information. Some articles focused on the Petitioner's personal life rather than her work as a singer. The circulation, web traffic, and social media follower figures were raw numbers not compared to other Albanian publications and were insufficient to demonstrate major media status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-04-22_01_B2203; source_row=23866
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment