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 16651–16660

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found in its prior motion decision that the Petitioner's proposed ASD education research has substantial merit and national importance, although her proposed teaching activities did not meet this prong.

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 in its prior motion decision that the Petitioner's proposed ASD education research has substantial merit and national importance, although her proposed teaching activities did not meet this prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-22_01_B5203; source_row=21748
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Materials ScienceEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner's proposed metallurgical engineering work has substantial merit, she failed to demonstrate national importance. The record did not show that her specific work offers original innovations advancing the steel and wire industry or otherwise has broader implications in the field of metallurgical engineering beyond her employer and its customers.…

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 that while the Petitioner's proposed metallurgical engineering work has substantial merit, she failed to demonstrate national importance. The record did not show that her specific work offers original innovations advancing the steel and wire industry or otherwise has broader implications in the field of metallurgical engineering beyond her employer and its customers. Counsel's assertions about consulting in oil and gas and aerospace were inconsistent with other evidence and lacked sufficient detail.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-21_01_B5203; source_row=21740
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded that the combination of high-level judging invitations, media recognition as a pioneer and expert, top-percentage app installations, involvement in accelerator programs, and affirmation by a business executive who selected the Petitioner after a worldwide screening establishes eligibility.

Why this is useful

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AAO concluded that the combination of high-level judging invitations, media recognition as a pioneer and expert, top-percentage app installations, involvement in accelerator programs, and affirmation by a business executive who selected the Petitioner after a worldwide screening establishes eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-21_01_B2203; source_row=21739
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO faulted the Director for conflating criterion viii with criterion v, noting they require different analyses. AAO found that the Petitioner performs a leading or critical role as cofounder and creator of the company's most utilized app, and that app download figures and media coverage are consistent with a finding that the app development business enjoys a distinguished reputation.

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AAO faulted the Director for conflating criterion viii with criterion v, noting they require different analyses. AAO found that the Petitioner performs a leading or critical role as cofounder and creator of the company's most utilized app, and that app download figures and media coverage are consistent with a finding that the app development business enjoys a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-21_01_B2203; source_row=21738
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 other major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

One article discusses the Petitioner and his brother at length, explaining how they came to work on apps, making it sufficiently 'about' the Petitioner. New appellate exhibits confirmed the publication has a readership of 815,000 and is the second most popular newspaper in Spain by readership and circulation, qualifying it as major media.

Why this is useful

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One article discusses the Petitioner and his brother at length, explaining how they came to work on apps, making it sufficiently 'about' the Petitioner. New appellate exhibits confirmed the publication has a readership of 815,000 and is the second most popular newspaper in Spain by readership and circulation, qualifying it as major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-21_01_B2203; source_row=21736
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others in the same or allied field

Why the evidence was persuasive

The record supports the Director's determination that the Petitioner judged software and hardware projects at a hackathon, judged an entrepreneurial competition in Spain with 700 participants, and was one of four reviewers of a published guide.

Why this is useful

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The record supports the Director's determination that the Petitioner judged software and hardware projects at a hackathon, judged an entrepreneurial competition in Spain with 700 participants, and was one of four reviewers of a published guide.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-21_01_B2203; source_row=21737
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Materials ScienceEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner's past experience in metallurgical engineering renders her well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor supporting her employer's production and manufacturing initiatives. Her employer described her as an experienced professional who fulfilled all requisite qualifications, and her graduate research demonstrated development of a novel metallurgy technique.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the Petitioner's past experience in metallurgical engineering renders her well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor supporting her employer's production and manufacturing initiatives. Her employer described her as an experienced professional who fulfilled all requisite qualifications, and her graduate research demonstrated development of a novel metallurgy technique.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-21_01_B5203; source_row=21741
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Materials ScienceEngineer

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 address the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor under prong one, making further analysis of the balancing factors unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to address the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish the national importance of her proposed endeavor under prong one, making further analysis of the balancing factors unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-21_01_B5203; source_row=21742
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner has not established that her classroom constituted an artistic venue that displayed her work as required by the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner has not established that her classroom constituted an artistic venue that displayed her work as required by the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-18_01_B2203; source_row=21725
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Social 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

The submitted articles were about a Spanish immersion program and a school visit by a governor, not about the Petitioner herself. The articles also failed to include required information such as dates and authors, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate the publications were professional, major trade, or major media outlets.

Why this is useful

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

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The submitted articles were about a Spanish immersion program and a school visit by a governor, not about the Petitioner herself. The articles also failed to include required information such as dates and authors, and the Petitioner did not demonstrate the publications were professional, major trade, or major media outlets.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-18_01_B2203; source_row=21723
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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