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 15751–15760

EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the Beneficiary was involved in developing multiple products as a software engineer and senior product manager, the evidence does not show that his specific development work is considered of major significance in the field as a whole, as opposed to merely affecting his employers and their product offerings.

Why this is useful

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

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While the Beneficiary was involved in developing multiple products as a software engineer and senior product manager, the evidence does not show that his specific development work is considered of major significance in the field as a whole, as opposed to merely affecting his employers and their product offerings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_01_B2203; source_row=22720
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Beneficiary's salary was above the median for computer and information systems managers but remained well below the top decile. Additionally, the Petitioner offered no comparative evidence demonstrating that the Beneficiary's other remuneration (stock options, ESPP, benefits) was significantly high relative to others in the field.

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

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The Beneficiary's salary was above the median for computer and information systems managers but remained well below the top decile. Additionally, the Petitioner offered no comparative evidence demonstrating that the Beneficiary's other remuneration (stock options, ESPP, benefits) was significantly high relative to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_01_B2203; source_row=22722
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

None of the submitted articles are about the Beneficiary; they concern his employers and their product launches. The Petitioner failed to establish that the criterion does not readily apply to software engineers or product managers, and thus could not invoke comparable evidence. Even if comparable evidence were permissible, articles about employers and products are not of the same caliber as published material about the alien.

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

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None of the submitted articles are about the Beneficiary; they concern his employers and their product launches. The Petitioner failed to establish that the criterion does not readily apply to software engineers or product managers, and thus could not invoke comparable evidence. Even if comparable evidence were permissible, articles about employers and products are not of the same caliber as published material about the alien.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_01_B2203; source_row=22719
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 alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director that the article is not about the Petitioner, finding it does focus on his career and transition to coaching. However, AAO agreed that the evidence was insufficient to establish the newspaper as major media, as no basis for comparison to similar publications at the national level was provided.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO disagreed with the Director that the article is not about the Petitioner, finding it does focus on his career and transition to coaching. However, AAO agreed that the evidence was insufficient to establish the newspaper as major media, as no basis for comparison to similar publications at the national level was provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_02_B2203; source_row=22726
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

AAO disagreed with the Director that team awards cannot be attributed to the Petitioner as a team member, but nonetheless found the criterion unmet because the record did not establish that the championship receives national or international recognition for tennis excellence beyond the conference. Awards won by the Petitioner's trainees also cannot be directly linked to the Petitioner's performance as a coach.

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

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AAO disagreed with the Director that team awards cannot be attributed to the Petitioner as a team member, but nonetheless found the criterion unmet because the record did not establish that the championship receives national or international recognition for tennis excellence beyond the conference. Awards won by the Petitioner's trainees also cannot be directly linked to the Petitioner's performance as a coach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_02_B2203; source_row=22724
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the team had a distinguished reputation but found that the letter from the Director of Athletics lacked sufficient detail to establish a leading or critical role. Mere repetition of regulatory terms without supporting specifics is insufficient.

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

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AAO agreed the team had a distinguished reputation but found that the letter from the Director of Athletics lacked sufficient detail to establish a leading or critical role. Mere repetition of regulatory terms without supporting specifics is insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_02_B2203; source_row=22727
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 Petitioner did not directly address the membership requirements on appeal. Neither the number of certifications held nor the reference letters support qualification under this criterion, as no specific membership requirements constituting outstanding achievements were identified.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner did not directly address the membership requirements on appeal. Neither the number of certifications held nor the reference letters support qualification under this criterion, as no specific membership requirements constituting outstanding achievements were identified.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_02_B2203; source_row=22725
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that as Senior Product Manager, the Beneficiary performed in a critical role for the petitioning company, which has a distinguished reputation. Executive letters described his specific responsibilities and his role in leading one of the company's most important product releases generating significant additional revenue, and articles confirmed the company's distinguished reputation.

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 as Senior Product Manager, the Beneficiary performed in a critical role for the petitioning company, which has a distinguished reputation. Executive letters described his specific responsibilities and his role in leading one of the company's most important product releases generating significant additional revenue, and articles confirmed the company's distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_01_B2203; source_row=22721
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits analysis because the Petitioner did not satisfy the threshold of three criteria, though it noted the overall record does not support the required level of expertise.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits analysis because the Petitioner did not satisfy the threshold of three criteria, though it noted the overall record does not support the required level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-31_02_B2203; source_row=22728
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner demonstrated substantial merit (job creation, tourism contribution, entrepreneurial endeavor) but failed to establish national importance. The business metrics—projected revenue of $2.6 million and 8 employees by year five—did not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects at regional or national scale, and the petitioner failed to specify where the business would be located or how its projec…

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 the petitioner demonstrated substantial merit (job creation, tourism contribution, entrepreneurial endeavor) but failed to establish national importance. The business metrics—projected revenue of $2.6 million and 8 employees by year five—did not demonstrate substantial positive economic effects at regional or national scale, and the petitioner failed to specify where the business would be located or how its projections represented a meaningful increase in tourism.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-05-30_03_B5203; source_row=22710
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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