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 16971–16980

EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's salary documentation contained inconsistent and conflicting figures, making it impossible to establish his actual salary or remuneration. Additionally, the comparative salary data the Petitioner submitted was for petroleum engineers generally, while the Petitioner held a managerial role and thus needed to compare his salary to other managers of petroleum engineers.

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AAO found the Petitioner's salary documentation contained inconsistent and conflicting figures, making it impossible to establish his actual salary or remuneration. Additionally, the comparative salary data the Petitioner submitted was for petroleum engineers generally, while the Petitioner held a managerial role and thus needed to compare his salary to other managers of petroleum engineers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-16_01_B2203; source_row=21386
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that managerial personnel decisions (reviewing resumes, making promotion decisions) do not constitute serving as 'a judge' in the formal sense required by the regulation. The unpublished precedent cited by the Petitioner was non-binding and distinguishable because that petitioner also served on a prize selection committee and reviewed submissions for publication.

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AAO held that managerial personnel decisions (reviewing resumes, making promotion decisions) do not constitute serving as 'a judge' in the formal sense required by the regulation. The unpublished precedent cited by the Petitioner was non-binding and distinguishable because that petitioner also served on a prize selection committee and reviewed submissions for publication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-16_01_B2203; source_row=21383
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

Without a response to the RFE, the Petitioner did not provide additional information and evidence sufficient to show she is well positioned to advance the endeavor.

Why this is useful

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Without a response to the RFE, the Petitioner did not provide additional information and evidence sufficient to show she is well positioned to advance the endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-16_01_B5203; source_row=21389
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's classroom teaching had not been shown to impact the field of education or mathematics more broadly than her own students, and thus failed the national importance element.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the Petitioner's classroom teaching had not been shown to impact the field of education or mathematics more broadly than her own students, and thus failed the national importance element.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-16_01_B5203; source_row=21388
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

Without further evidence, the Petitioner did not establish that on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would be beneficial to the United States.

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Without further evidence, the Petitioner did not establish that on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would be beneficial to the United States.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-16_01_B5203; source_row=21390
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 declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy at least three criteria at step one, but noted in passing that the aggregate record would not establish the required level of acclaim.

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy at least three criteria at step one, but noted in passing that the aggregate record would not establish the required level of acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-16_01_B2203; source_row=21387
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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the letters established the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role for his employer, that his successes added to the company's reputation, and the record included evidence of the company's distinguished reputation. Therefore this criterion was met.

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AAO found the letters established the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role for his employer, that his successes added to the company's reputation, and the record included evidence of the company's distinguished reputation. Therefore this criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-16_01_B2203; source_row=21385
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the Petitioner failed to define a specific proposed endeavor, AAO could not determine whether he was well positioned to advance it. The record lacked concrete plans and progress documentation.

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Because the Petitioner failed to define a specific proposed endeavor, AAO could not determine whether he was well positioned to advance it. The record lacked concrete plans and progress documentation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-15_01_B5203; source_row=21381
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive job offer and labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner failed to establish that, on balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements, given the absence of a clearly defined proposed endeavor.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner failed to establish that, on balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements, given the absence of a clearly defined proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-15_01_B5203; source_row=21382
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherProfessor

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's proposed endeavor was not sufficiently defined. He described multiple possible directions without specifying which one he intended to pursue or how his time would be divided, making it impossible to evaluate whether his work had substantial merit and national importance.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner's proposed endeavor was not sufficiently defined. He described multiple possible directions without specifying which one he intended to pursue or how his time would be divided, making it impossible to evaluate whether his work had substantial merit and national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-05-15_01_B5203; source_row=21380
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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