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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 1511–1520
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Business / ManagementMaster’s
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Final merits
final merits determination
What the decision said
AAO declined to formally reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to clear the Step 1 threshold, but noted in dicta that the record does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO declined to formally reach the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to clear the Step 1 threshold, but noted in dicta that the record does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-02-03_03_B2203; source_row=42956 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO found that the Petitioner's generalized claims and conclusory statements lacked probative corroborating evidence showing that her innovations would influence the finance field at a national level.…
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
View full reasoning +
AAO found that the Petitioner's generalized claims and conclusory statements lacked probative corroborating evidence showing that her innovations would influence the finance field at a national level. The business plan's projections lacked sufficient supporting detail, the expert letters spoke only to her competence and work ethics rather than the national importance of her specific endeavor, and no government or senior-level expert letters described national-level interest in her innovations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_04_B5203; source_row=42922 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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
The Petitioner did not establish that the YouTube videos constitute professional, major trade, or major media publications. The subscriber and view statistics were minimal and their significance unexplained, and three of the six videos did not credit the Petitioner by name.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not establish that the YouTube videos constitute professional, major trade, or major media publications. The subscriber and view statistics were minimal and their significance unexplained, and three of the six videos did not credit the Petitioner by name.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=42904 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The recommendation letters praised the Petitioner as a talented dancer and coach but did not describe her methods in sufficient detail to identify them as unique contributions, did not explain what makes her methods a major contribution to the field, and some letters were unsigned and undated, diminishing their evidentiary value.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
The recommendation letters praised the Petitioner as a talented dancer and coach but did not describe her methods in sufficient detail to identify them as unique contributions, did not explain what makes her methods a major contribution to the field, and some letters were unsigned and undated, diminishing their evidentiary value.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=42906 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Why AAO was not persuaded
The BDSA membership requirements did not describe outstanding achievements as a condition of membership, and the evidence did not show that membership decisions are judged by national or international experts in the field. Counsel's assertions that the board consists of distinguished figures were unsubstantiated.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The BDSA membership requirements did not describe outstanding achievements as a condition of membership, and the evidence did not show that membership decisions are judged by national or international experts in the field. Counsel's assertions that the board consists of distinguished figures were unsubstantiated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=42903 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
commanding a high salary or other significantly high remuneration
Why AAO was not persuaded
The salary comparison data was not contemporaneous with the Petitioner's actual earnings and did not relate to the geographic area where the work was performed (aboard a cruise ship vs. Belarus). Therefore, AAO could not determine the Petitioner's salary was high compared to others in the field.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The salary comparison data was not contemporaneous with the Petitioner's actual earnings and did not relate to the geographic area where the work was performed (aboard a cruise ship vs. Belarus). Therefore, AAO could not determine the Petitioner's salary was high compared to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=42908 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
performing in a leading or critical role for distinguished organizations
Why AAO was not persuaded
The Petitioner did not demonstrate a leading or critical role with sufficient evidence of job duties or contributions, and did not establish the distinguished reputation of the relevant organizations. The advertising posters did not explain how her picture was selected or demonstrate a leading or critical role.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not demonstrate a leading or critical role with sufficient evidence of job duties or contributions, and did not establish the distinguished reputation of the relevant organizations. The advertising posters did not explain how her picture was selected or demonstrate a leading or critical role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=42907 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Why AAO was not persuaded
The documentation does not establish when Petitioner was on the team, which sub-team she belonged to, or that selection requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized national/international experts. The MMA materials concern judges/referees rather than team membership.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The documentation does not establish when Petitioner was on the team, which sub-team she belonged to, or that selection requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized national/international experts. The MMA materials concern judges/referees rather than team membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_02_B2203; source_row=42913 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
published material about the petitioner in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Why AAO was not persuaded
The 'Tribune' area of sports.ru is a social-network blog space and the YouTube channel's self-description is unsupported; neither qualifies as professional/major trade publication or major media.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The 'Tribune' area of sports.ru is a social-network blog space and the YouTube channel's self-description is unsupported; neither qualifies as professional/major trade publication or major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_02_B2203; source_row=42914 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 the proposed endeavor does not sufficiently extend beyond its clientele to impact the property management software industry or broader economic initiatives at a nationally important level. The projected economic benefits relied on speculative chains of assumptions, financial projections were unsupported, and the application was not shown to be more innovative than existing U.S. competitors.
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
View full reasoning +
AAO found that the proposed endeavor does not sufficiently extend beyond its clientele to impact the property management software industry or broader economic initiatives at a nationally important level. The projected economic benefits relied on speculative chains of assumptions, financial projections were unsupported, and the application was not shown to be more innovative than existing U.S. competitors.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-01-31_02_B5203; source_row=42919 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c