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 14911500

EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner had not met her burden of proof, noting the employer's letter identified no source to support the claim that the Petitioner's salary was five times higher than average.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner had not met her burden of proof, noting the employer's letter identified no source to support the claim that the Petitioner's salary was five times higher than average.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_03_B2203; source_row=42955
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that, while the Petitioner documented various activities, she did not submit evidence showing these activities included or amounted to participating as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied field.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that, while the Petitioner documented various activities, she did not submit evidence showing these activities included or amounted to participating as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_03_B2203; source_row=42951
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the submitted evidence was insufficiently dispositive and that the Petitioner failed to provide objective documentation specifically requested by the Director, including bylaws, membership criteria, and corroborating statements from decision-makers.

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that the submitted evidence was insufficiently dispositive and that the Petitioner failed to provide objective documentation specifically requested by the Director, including bylaws, membership criteria, and corroborating statements from decision-makers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_03_B2203; source_row=42949
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that new evidence on motion did not demonstrate national importance; the client list lacked supporting detail, military-related documents showed only personal career aspirations, uncited articles were unsupported by documentation, and new reports provided no analysis connecting them to the Petitioner's specific endeavor.

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 found that new evidence on motion did not demonstrate national importance; the client list lacked supporting detail, military-related documents showed only personal career aspirations, uncited articles were unsupported by documentation, and new reports provided no analysis connecting them to the Petitioner's specific endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_01_B5203; source_row=42934
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held the issue had been waived on appeal and that, in any event, an ad hoc panel for a single conference is not an 'association' within the regulatory meaning, and the evidence did not show outstanding achievements were required for panel selection.

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AAO held the issue had been waived on appeal and that, in any event, an ad hoc panel for a single conference is not an 'association' within the regulatory meaning, and the evidence did not show outstanding achievements were required for panel selection.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_02_B2203; source_row=42938
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found displays at an automotive trade show and a career-discussion event were not artistic in nature, and a solo gallery exhibition of paintings was not associated with his employment in media and communications. The OOH listed 'media and communication' separate from 'arts and design.'

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AAO found displays at an automotive trade show and a career-discussion event were not artistic in nature, and a solo gallery exhibition of paintings was not associated with his employment in media and communications. The OOH listed 'media and communication' separate from 'arts and design.'
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_02_B2203; source_row=42943
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner did not establish he received the award and additionally withdrew the Director's suggestion that the Summit Creative Awards qualify as nationally or internationally recognized, finding insufficient evidence of recognition beyond the awarding organization's own website.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner did not establish he received the award and additionally withdrew the Director's suggestion that the Summit Creative Awards qualify as nationally or internationally recognized, finding insufficient evidence of recognition beyond the awarding organization's own website.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_02_B2203; source_row=42937
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the evidence shows the Petitioner exercised everyday executive authority (approving subscriptions, video placements) rather than judging the work of others in his field, and the new employer letter lacks specifics curing prior deficiencies.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded the evidence shows the Petitioner exercised everyday executive authority (approving subscriptions, video placements) rather than judging the work of others in his field, and the new employer letter lacks specifics curing prior deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_02_B2203; source_row=42940
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO accorded no weight to three articles because translations remained incomplete. The CCTV broadcast transcript was complete but did not concern the Petitioner's claimed field of media and communications; it focused on the Chinese auto industry. AAO applied the October 2024 policy update removing the 'value to the field' requirement but still found the criterion unmet because the material was not about the Petitioner's work.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO accorded no weight to three articles because translations remained incomplete. The CCTV broadcast transcript was complete but did not concern the Petitioner's claimed field of media and communications; it focused on the Chinese auto industry. AAO applied the October 2024 policy update removing the 'value to the field' requirement but still found the criterion unmet because the material was not about the Petitioner's work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_02_B2203; source_row=42939
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences40 papers75 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record does not establish the patent has attracted significant attention or commercialization. Opinion letters opine only about future potential uses, not actual impact since the patent was granted in 2014. The claim of 40+ citations lacks corroborating documentation and context relative to other researchers' citation counts in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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The record does not establish the patent has attracted significant attention or commercialization. Opinion letters opine only about future potential uses, not actual impact since the patent was granted in 2014. The claim of 40+ citations lacks corroborating documentation and context relative to other researchers' citation counts in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_04_B2203; source_row=42962
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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