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 16171–16180

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

Fellowships provide training and funding opportunities but do not qualify as prizes or awards recognizing excellence in the field, especially when competed for only by students rather than established experts. The biographical volume listing also failed because it is a for-profit volume with no evidence of national or international recognition and does not constitute a prize or award.

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Fellowships provide training and funding opportunities but do not qualify as prizes or awards recognizing excellence in the field, especially when competed for only by students rather than established experts. The biographical volume listing also failed because it is a for-profit volume with no evidence of national or international recognition and does not constitute a prize or award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_04_B2203; source_row=22257
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 in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the articles constituted published material about the Petitioner relating to his work, he failed to provide sufficient evidence—such as comparative circulation statistics for other Georgian publications—to establish that the newspapers qualify as major media.

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While the articles constituted published material about the Petitioner relating to his work, he failed to provide sufficient evidence—such as comparative circulation statistics for other Georgian publications—to establish that the newspapers qualify as major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_02_B2203; source_row=22247
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

memberships in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The federation's letter merely repeated regulatory language without explaining what outstanding achievements were required or how members are evaluated. The vocational diploma was from an academic institution where the Petitioner was enrolled as a student, not an association requiring membership based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.

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The federation's letter merely repeated regulatory language without explaining what outstanding achievements were required or how members are evaluated. The vocational diploma was from an academic institution where the Petitioner was enrolled as a student, not an association requiring membership based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_02_B2203; source_row=22246
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 primarily praised the Petitioner's athletic skills and recited his awards, but did not explain any original contribution beyond winning competitions or describe how his techniques impacted or influenced the field. Letters that merely repeat regulatory language without specific examples of major significance are insufficient.

Why this is useful

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

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The recommendation letters primarily praised the Petitioner's athletic skills and recited his awards, but did not explain any original contribution beyond winning competitions or describe how his techniques impacted or influenced the field. Letters that merely repeat regulatory language without specific examples of major significance are insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_02_B2203; source_row=22249
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director and withdrew the finding that the Petitioner met this criterion. The letter listing the Petitioner as a chief or side referee failed to describe whether refereeing duties involved judging the work of competitors (e.g., awarding points or choosing a winner) as opposed to merely enforcing rules and ensuring sportsmanlike conduct.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO disagreed with the Director and withdrew the finding that the Petitioner met this criterion. The letter listing the Petitioner as a chief or side referee failed to describe whether refereeing duties involved judging the work of competitors (e.g., awarding points or choosing a winner) as opposed to merely enforcing rules and ensuring sportsmanlike conduct.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_02_B2203; source_row=22248
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's memberships did not require outstanding achievements for admission, his employer-based recognition did not extend beyond the company, his conference presentations were not shown to have been adopted or cited outside the employer, and his salary did not exceed that of managers 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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AAO found that the petitioner's memberships did not require outstanding achievements for admission, his employer-based recognition did not extend beyond the company, his conference presentations were not shown to have been adopted or cited outside the employer, and his salary did not exceed that of managers in the field. The totality of evidence showed value to his employer but not national or international acclaim or standing at the top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_01_B2203; source_row=22244
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 reach the final merits determination because the petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three evidentiary criteria at step 1, but noted in dicta that the record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to reach the final merits determination because the petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three evidentiary criteria at step 1, but noted in dicta that the record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_03_B2203; source_row=22256
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner's gold, silver, and bronze medals at various national and international competitions, supported by media coverage, established that she meets this criterion.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the petitioner's gold, silver, and bronze medals at various national and international competitions, supported by media coverage, established that she meets this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_03_B2203; source_row=22251
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner's evidence of reviewing manuscripts submitted for publication in professional journals satisfies this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner's evidence of reviewing manuscripts submitted for publication in professional journals satisfies this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_04_B2203; source_row=22259
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

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

Articles that merely cite the Petitioner's work are primarily about the authors' own work or field trends and are not 'about the alien' as required by the regulation. The submitted documentation does not discuss the Petitioner's standing in the field or the impact of his work.

Why this is useful

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

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Articles that merely cite the Petitioner's work are primarily about the authors' own work or field trends and are not 'about the alien' as required by the regulation. The submitted documentation does not discuss the Petitioner's standing in the field or the impact of his work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-24_04_B2203; source_row=22258
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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