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 16271–16280

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the evidence sufficient to establish the Beneficiary's participation as a judge of the work of others, reversing the Director's finding on this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the evidence sufficient to establish the Beneficiary's participation as a judge of the work of others, reversing the Director's finding on this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-19_03_B2203; source_row=22160
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 a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidentiary threshold, though AAO noted the aggregate record would not support extraordinary ability.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to reach a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidentiary threshold, though AAO noted the aggregate record would not support extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-19_03_B2203; source_row=22165
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

possession of qualifying degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

The degree documents showed a 1988 graduation year rather than 1998 as attested on the labor certification, and the student name on the documents did not match the Beneficiary's name, leaving unresolved inconsistencies that prevented establishing possession of the required degree.

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The degree documents showed a 1988 graduation year rather than 1998 as attested on the labor certification, and the student name on the documents did not match the Beneficiary's name, leaving unresolved inconsistencies that prevented establishing possession of the required degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-19_01_B5203; source_row=22157
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted only a 2015 tax return on appeal and previously submitted 2016 financial statements that were not audited. Without a qualifying financial document for the 2016 priority date year, and given the additional burden of two other approved petitions, the Petitioner has not demonstrated ability to pay.

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The Petitioner submitted only a 2015 tax return on appeal and previously submitted 2016 financial statements that were not audited. Without a qualifying financial document for the 2016 priority date year, and given the additional burden of two other approved petitions, the Petitioner has not demonstrated ability to pay.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-19_01_B5203; source_row=22156
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

five years of post-baccalaureate experience in job offered

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employer letter stated the Beneficiary's last position but did not indicate how long she held it. The attached job duties description was not referenced in the letter, was not on agency stationery, and was unsigned, making it unreliable. The record therefore lacked a sufficient description of qualifying experience.

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The employer letter stated the Beneficiary's last position but did not indicate how long she held it. The attached job duties description was not referenced in the letter, was not on agency stationery, and was unsigned, making it unreliable. The record therefore lacked a sufficient description of qualifying experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-19_01_B5203; source_row=22158
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Qualifying work experience per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Numerous unresolved inconsistencies in the Beneficiary's employment and residential documentation—including conflicting dates, addresses, and employer references across multiple labor certifications, pay statements, W-2s, and leases—precluded a finding that the Beneficiary had 12 months of qualifying experience by the priority date.

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Numerous unresolved inconsistencies in the Beneficiary's employment and residential documentation—including conflicting dates, addresses, and employer references across multiple labor certifications, pay statements, W-2s, and leases—precluded a finding that the Beneficiary had 12 months of qualifying experience by the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-15_01_B5203; source_row=22148
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Fraud or willful misrepresentation of a material fact

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the Director's fraud finding both procedurally deficient (failing to specify who committed fraud, which document was involved, and what type of misconduct was found) and substantively unsupported, concluding the inconsistencies did not rise to the level of fraud or willful misrepresentation.

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The AAO found the Director's fraud finding both procedurally deficient (failing to specify who committed fraud, which document was involved, and what type of misconduct was found) and substantively unsupported, concluding the inconsistencies did not rise to the level of fraud or willful misrepresentation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-15_01_B5203; source_row=22149
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics2,009 papers

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although AAO found the work had substantial merit as it supports engineering consulting and custom software development, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate prospective impact beyond his employer and its clients. He did not show original innovations affecting broader industries or wider implications in the software development field.

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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Although AAO found the work had substantial merit as it supports engineering consulting and custom software development, the Petitioner failed to demonstrate prospective impact beyond his employer and its clients. He did not show original innovations affecting broader industries or wider implications in the software development field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-14_01_B5203; source_row=22140
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 reference letters, reviews, and sales evidence did not show how the Petitioner's work substantially impacted the visual arts field as a whole, influenced other artists, or otherwise rose to the level of original contributions of major significance. Letters were vague and prospective in nature, and sales demonstrated only an ability to earn a living as an artist.

Why this is useful

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

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The reference letters, reviews, and sales evidence did not show how the Petitioner's work substantially impacted the visual arts field as a whole, influenced other artists, or otherwise rose to the level of original contributions of major significance. Letters were vague and prospective in nature, and sales demonstrated only an ability to earn a living as an artist.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-14_01_B2203; source_row=22136
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

intent to continue work in area of extraordinary ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment letters did not demonstrate the positions were in the area of the Petitioner's claimed extraordinary ability (visual arts), and no other evidence established intent to continue working in that field.

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The employment letters did not demonstrate the positions were in the area of the Petitioner's claimed extraordinary ability (visual arts), and no other evidence established intent to continue working in that field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-14_02_B2203; source_row=22147
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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