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 15441–15450

NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's colleagues' letters are uncorroborated and insufficient to establish his publications' impact. The record lacks letters of support from U.S. researchers, physicians, investors, or potential collaborators. The record does not show his research has been frequently cited, affected treatment methods beyond his own institutions, or generated substantial positive discourse in the broader medical community.…

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Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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The Petitioner's colleagues' letters are uncorroborated and insufficient to establish his publications' impact. The record lacks letters of support from U.S. researchers, physicians, investors, or potential collaborators. The record does not show his research has been frequently cited, affected treatment methods beyond his own institutions, or generated substantial positive discourse in the broader medical community. Not every individual who has performed medical studies is well positioned to advance a proposed research endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-10_01_B5203; source_row=23065
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the Petitioner's proposed research aimed at improving treatment options for autism has substantial merit, the record fails to document the broader prospective impact of his specific proposed endeavor. The submitted article does not discuss homeopathic research aimed at autism, the surgeon's letter relates to past clinical work in Korea rather than the proposed U.S.…

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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While the Petitioner's proposed research aimed at improving treatment options for autism has substantial merit, the record fails to document the broader prospective impact of his specific proposed endeavor. The submitted article does not discuss homeopathic research aimed at autism, the surgeon's letter relates to past clinical work in Korea rather than the proposed U.S. endeavor, and the referenced external reports were not included in the record. Clinical work limited to patients served does not establish national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-10_01_B5203; source_row=23064
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first and second prongs, rendering further discussion of the balancing factors purposeless.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to meet the first and second prongs, rendering further discussion of the balancing factors purposeless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-10_01_B5203; source_row=23066
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

foreign equivalent degree for advanced degree professional

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds none of the evaluations claim the credentials are themselves a degree, and the issuing body is not a degree-granting institution; comparability for some purposes is insufficient to meet the regulatory requirement of a foreign equivalent degree.

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

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AAO finds none of the evaluations claim the credentials are themselves a degree, and the issuing body is not a degree-granting institution; comparability for some purposes is insufficient to meet the regulatory requirement of a foreign equivalent degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-06_01_B5203; source_row=23062
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

minimum educational requirement of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO applies the plain-language rule from Madany and Rosedale Linden Park: H.9 allows a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's, which means a foreign equivalent degree, and the Beneficiary's non-degree certificates do not qualify.

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AAO applies the plain-language rule from Madany and Rosedale Linden Park: H.9 allows a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's, which means a foreign equivalent degree, and the Beneficiary's non-degree certificates do not qualify.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-06_01_B5203; source_row=23063
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 petitioner in major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The ranking websites lacked independent circulation or distribution statistics and verifiable sources. Vanguard's ranking was based on self-provided figures. The blogs list lacked comparative statistics and verifiable sourcing. Therefore the publications were not established as major media.

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The ranking websites lacked independent circulation or distribution statistics and verifiable sources. Vanguard's ranking was based on self-provided figures. The blogs list lacked comparative statistics and verifiable sourcing. Therefore the publications were not established as major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-05_01_B2203; source_row=23052
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 awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner provided no corroborating evidence that pageants involved national representative selection, the YouTube video lacked broadcast information, and no new evidence established the awards were for excellence in the field of modeling. The Petitioner failed to overcome the prior adverse finding.

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

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The Petitioner provided no corroborating evidence that pageants involved national representative selection, the YouTube video lacked broadcast information, and no new evidence established the awards were for excellence in the field of modeling. The Petitioner failed to overcome the prior adverse finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-05_01_B2203; source_row=23051
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO rejected Petitioner's interpretation, noting Kazarian did not address the membership criterion and Petitioner provided no pertinent decision or provision supporting her reading.

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AAO rejected Petitioner's interpretation, noting Kazarian did not address the membership criterion and Petitioner provided no pertinent decision or provision supporting her reading.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-05_02_B2203; source_row=23055
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held the plain language requires the Petitioner herself to have received the award; the cited cases do not support attributing students' awards to the coach under this criterion. Student awards are instead considered under the contributions criterion as comparable evidence.

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AAO held the plain language requires the Petitioner herself to have received the award; the cited cases do not support attributing students' awards to the coach under this criterion. Student awards are instead considered under the contributions criterion as comparable evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-05_02_B2203; source_row=23054
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO had withdrawn the Director's favorable finding on appeal, concluding that reference letters lacked detail tying student successes to the Petitioner's training and that her contributions did not rise to major significance given the large number of dancers winning awards 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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AAO had withdrawn the Director's favorable finding on appeal, concluding that reference letters lacked detail tying student successes to the Petitioner's training and that her contributions did not rise to major significance given the large number of dancers winning awards in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-09-05_02_B2203; source_row=23058
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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