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 18091–18100

EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences16 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

Not argued on appeal; deemed abandoned. AAO also noted the record did not show qualifying association membership.

Why this is useful

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Not argued on appeal; deemed abandoned. AAO also noted the record did not show qualifying association membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-14_01_B2203; source_row=20212
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences16 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien

What the decision said

Not argued on appeal; deemed abandoned. AAO also noted the record did not show the Beneficiary had been featured in qualifying publications.

Why this is useful

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Not argued on appeal; deemed abandoned. AAO also noted the record did not show the Beneficiary had been featured in qualifying publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-14_01_B2203; source_row=20213
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found Petitioner's positive impact on her own students and school district is local rather than field-wide. Her claim of being a 'pioneer' in classroom tablet use was unsupported, and evidence about teacher shortages goes to labor certification, not the waiver.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO found Petitioner's positive impact on her own students and school district is local rather than field-wide. Her claim of being a 'pioneer' in classroom tablet use was unsupported, and evidence about teacher shortages goes to labor certification, not the waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-11_02_B5203; source_row=20210
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves national interest to a substantially greater degree than a U.S. worker with same minimum qualifications

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner's explanation for a modest citation history—that his research was proprietary and industrial in nature—was credible and supported by the record. The submitted letters described with specificity how independent companies and funding organizations used his work, and attested to wider industry application, demonstrating the required 'some degree of influence on the field as a whole.'

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO found the Petitioner's explanation for a modest citation history—that his research was proprietary and industrial in nature—was credible and supported by the record. The submitted letters described with specificity how independent companies and funding organizations used his work, and attested to wider industry application, demonstrating the required 'some degree of influence on the field as a whole.'
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-11_01_B5203; source_row=20207
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the work of one classroom teacher does not have national scope. The NCLBA and similar federal initiatives describe national education goals but do not establish that one teacher's work significantly contributes to them.

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 agreed the work of one classroom teacher does not have national scope. The NCLBA and similar federal initiatives describe national education goals but do not establish that one teacher's work significantly contributes to them.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-11_02_B5203; source_row=20209
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO noted the Director's finding of substantial intrinsic merit was not in dispute.

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 noted the Director's finding of substantial intrinsic merit was not in dispute.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-11_02_B5203; source_row=20208
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirmed the Director's finding, noting the Petitioner was named one of the publication's notable men, that the publication has 44 million readers, and that the articles were in major media.

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AAO affirmed the Director's finding, noting the Petitioner was named one of the publication's notable men, that the publication has 44 million readers, and that the articles were in major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-10_01_B2203; source_row=20201
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that earnings documentation from multiple agencies, references, and BLS data established the Petitioner's annual income at or above the 90th percentile for models.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that earnings documentation from multiple agencies, references, and BLS data established the Petitioner's annual income at or above the 90th percentile for models.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-10_01_B2203; source_row=20203
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

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO conducted the final merits determination and found that the totality of evidence demonstrated sustained acclaim and that the Petitioner is at the very top of the modeling field.

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AAO conducted the final merits determination and found that the totality of evidence demonstrated sustained acclaim and that the Petitioner is at the very top of the modeling field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-10_01_B2203; source_row=20204
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirmed, finding the Petitioner had appeared prominently in advertising campaigns and fashion magazine editorials, with name credit as featured model.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO affirmed, finding the Petitioner had appeared prominently in advertising campaigns and fashion magazine editorials, with name credit as featured model.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-10_01_B2203; source_row=20202
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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