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 17781–17790

EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's annual salary of $107,712 was below the Level 4 prevailing wage of $121,805, the $68/hour billing rate appeared to be the client billing rate not his personal salary, and his Indian salary of eight lakh rupees was below what good software programmers can easily earn, all failing to demonstrate a high salary relative to others in the field.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's annual salary of $107,712 was below the Level 4 prevailing wage of $121,805, the $68/hour billing rate appeared to be the client billing rate not his personal salary, and his Indian salary of eight lakh rupees was below what good software programmers can easily earn, all failing to demonstrate a high salary relative to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=20537
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that letters discussing the Petitioner's exemplary work on projects do not address his relative position within the organizations or his overall impact on the establishments, and that operating as an individual contributor on large projects does not constitute a leading or critical role.

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AAO found that letters discussing the Petitioner's exemplary work on projects do not address his relative position within the organizations or his overall impact on the establishments, and that operating as an individual contributor on large projects does not constitute a leading or critical role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=20536
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the thesis was not shown to have appeared in a professional or major trade publication or other major media. AAO also found that the article the Petitioner claimed cited his thesis did not in fact contain such a citation, and that conference presentations do not satisfy the authorship requirement regardless.

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AAO found that the thesis was not shown to have appeared in a professional or major trade publication or other major media. AAO also found that the article the Petitioner claimed cited his thesis did not in fact contain such a citation, and that conference presentations do not satisfy the authorship requirement regardless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=20535
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three criteria at step 1, but noted the aggregate record does not support the required level of expertise.

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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three criteria at step 1, but noted the aggregate record does not support the required level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=20538
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The biographical volumes were for-profit publications with no evidence of national or international recognition. The organization's nominations were not prizes or awards per the plain language of the regulation, and a government website identified the organization as a scam that charges money for its honors. The petitioner did not rebut these concerns.

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The biographical volumes were for-profit publications with no evidence of national or international recognition. The organization's nominations were not prizes or awards per the plain language of the regulation, and a government website identified the organization as a scam that charges money for its honors. The petitioner did not rebut these concerns.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-08_01_B2203; source_row=20526
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot established

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

The criterion is limited by its plain language to artistic exhibitions and showcases. Because the petitioner is not an artist and scientific presentations are already counted under the scholarly articles criterion, counting them again here would undermine the requirement to satisfy three separate criteria.

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The criterion is limited by its plain language to artistic exhibitions and showcases. Because the petitioner is not an artist and scientific presentations are already counted under the scholarly articles criterion, counting them again here would undermine the requirement to satisfy three separate criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-08_01_B2203; source_row=20531
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO rejected the petitioner's legal challenge to the two-step approach, finding it consistent with the statute, regulations, and federal case law including post-appeal Ninth Circuit reaffirmations.…

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AAO rejected the petitioner's legal challenge to the two-step approach, finding it consistent with the statute, regulations, and federal case law including post-appeal Ninth Circuit reaffirmations. On the merits, the evidence in aggregate did not establish the petitioner as among the small percentage at the top of the field; judging was routine, publications were dated and uncited, contributions lacked corroboration, and expert letters stood alone without supporting independent documentation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-08_01_B2203; source_row=20533
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner is not a named member of the research collaboration, not a credited author on any of its articles or presentations, and not an identified collaborator in any memorandum of understanding. The record also lacks evidence that he was ever employed at the university he claimed a role with.

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The petitioner is not a named member of the research collaboration, not a credited author on any of its articles or presentations, and not an identified collaborator in any memorandum of understanding. The record also lacks evidence that he was ever employed at the university he claimed a role with.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-08_01_B2203; source_row=20532
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Expert letters described the petitioner's work as having potential future significance but did not demonstrate existing major impact on the field. The petitioner had no peer-reviewed publications as a credited author on the mirror design work, was not a listed member or credited coauthor of the research collaboration, and citation or follow-up evidence in the field was absent.

Why this is useful

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

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Expert letters described the petitioner's work as having potential future significance but did not demonstrate existing major impact on the field. The petitioner had no peer-reviewed publications as a credited author on the mirror design work, was not a listed member or credited coauthor of the research collaboration, and citation or follow-up evidence in the field was absent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-08_01_B2203; source_row=20529
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The record includes articles in journals dating from 1997 through 1999 and presentations published in proceedings in 1997 and 1998, supporting the Director's favorable finding.

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The record includes articles in journals dating from 1997 through 1999 and presentations published in proceedings in 1997 and 1998, supporting the Director's favorable finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-08-08_01_B2203; source_row=20530
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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