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 15311–15320
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Materials Science
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Final merits
final merits determination
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO conducted the final merits determination and found that the petitioner's judging work, original contributions used by other researchers, IOL patent and industrial grant, and high citation rate collectively demonstrated sustained national and international acclaim and placement 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.
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AAO conducted the final merits determination and found that the petitioner's judging work, original contributions used by other researchers, IOL patent and industrial grant, and high citation rate collectively demonstrated sustained national and international acclaim and placement at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-31_02_B2203; source_row=23221 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Materials Science
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO found that comparing citation counts to other researchers is not appropriate for assessing original contributions of major significance at step 1, and that the substantive evidence showed other researchers had directly built upon the petitioner's cancer research as a foundation for their own breakthroughs in drug delivery.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found that comparing citation counts to other researchers is not appropriate for assessing original contributions of major significance at step 1, and that the substantive evidence showed other researchers had directly built upon the petitioner's cancer research as a foundation for their own breakthroughs in drug delivery.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-31_02_B2203; source_row=23219 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that while representing one's country at the Olympics is honorable, the record lacks evidence of a title or duties establishing leadership or a critical role, and the Petitioner failed to show her contributions were of significant importance to the country's activities.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found that while representing one's country at the Olympics is honorable, the record lacks evidence of a title or duties establishing leadership or a critical role, and the Petitioner failed to show her contributions were of significant importance to the country's activities.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-30_01_B2203; source_row=23209 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the record did not establish the membership requirements for the associations claimed, that counsel's assertions are not evidence, that the record did not demonstrate individual membership in one organization whose constitution limits membership to national organizations, and that the Petitioner failed to show outstanding achievements are required for membership as judged by recognized experts.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found that the record did not establish the membership requirements for the associations claimed, that counsel's assertions are not evidence, that the record did not demonstrate individual membership in one organization whose constitution limits membership to national organizations, and that the Petitioner failed to show outstanding achievements are required for membership as judged by recognized experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-30_01_B2203; source_row=23207 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Major award
One-time major internationally recognized award
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that certificates of participation and a fifth-place ranking show participation but do not constitute awards, and the Petitioner failed to submit documentation substantiating her claim that a silver medal at the referenced event constitutes a major international award.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found that certificates of participation and a fifth-place ranking show participation but do not constitute awards, and the Petitioner failed to submit documentation substantiating her claim that a silver medal at the referenced event constitutes a major international award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-30_01_B2203; source_row=23205 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
Published material in professional or major trade publications or major media
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO agreed the record contains published material about the Petitioner in professional publications such as Taekwondo Flash, the official publication of the relevant taekwondo organization.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO agreed the record contains published material about the Petitioner in professional publications such as Taekwondo Flash, the official publication of the relevant taekwondo organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-30_01_B2203; source_row=23208 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found that while the Petitioner demonstrated educational qualifications and some research output, the record did not show a sufficient record of success, progress, or meaningful interest from relevant parties.…
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
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The AAO found that while the Petitioner demonstrated educational qualifications and some research output, the record did not show a sufficient record of success, progress, or meaningful interest from relevant parties. Specifically, evidence of work on cost savings lacked proof of implementation, the automated algorithm research lacked evidence of adoption, and the atrial fibrillation research lacked evidence of substantial discourse or impact on healthcare decisions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-29_01_B5203; source_row=23203 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO independently reviewed the third prong arguments and found none persuasive: the Petitioner was unemployed at filing and had not shown urgency, did not demonstrate resources for independent research or any practical impediment to securing a job offer, did not identify specific unique skills not captured in labor certification, and had not demonstrated sufficiently valuable contributions to outweigh the national inter…
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
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The AAO independently reviewed the third prong arguments and found none persuasive: the Petitioner was unemployed at filing and had not shown urgency, did not demonstrate resources for independent research or any practical impediment to securing a job offer, did not identify specific unique skills not captured in labor certification, and had not demonstrated sufficiently valuable contributions to outweigh the national interest in the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-10-29_01_B5203; source_row=23204 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c