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 18151–18160

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

other

meets labor certification experience requirement (24 months)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO independently found, beyond the Director's decision, that three of four employer letters failed to comply with 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1) for lacking specific duty descriptions and/or required identifying information. Only one compliant letter covered fewer than eight months, well short of the required 24 months.

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AAO independently found, beyond the Director's decision, that three of four employer letters failed to comply with 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1) for lacking specific duty descriptions and/or required identifying information. Only one compliant letter covered fewer than eight months, well short of the required 24 months.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-22_01_B5203; source_row=20150
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted de novo review and withdrew the Director's favorable finding, concluding that the submitted articles were not 'about' the Petitioner—he was only mentioned briefly or in photo captions—and that other publications were not shown to qualify as major media or professional/major trade publications. A YouTube video with 353 views on an openly accessible platform did not constitute qualifying published material.

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AAO conducted de novo review and withdrew the Director's favorable finding, concluding that the submitted articles were not 'about' the Petitioner—he was only mentioned briefly or in photo captions—and that other publications were not shown to qualify as major media or professional/major trade publications. A YouTube video with 353 views on an openly accessible platform did not constitute qualifying published material.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_03_B2203; source_row=20144
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that being asked to meet with foreign visitors as a program participant does not constitute receipt of a prize or award, and that the Petitioner did not show national or international recognition of any such award in the field. Participation in an arts education project similarly did not constitute receipt of a prize or award.

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AAO found that being asked to meet with foreign visitors as a program participant does not constitute receipt of a prize or award, and that the Petitioner did not show national or international recognition of any such award in the field. Participation in an arts education project similarly did not constitute receipt of a prize or award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_03_B2203; source_row=20143
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or other significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's actual earnings of $45,255–$48,067 fell below the BLS median wages for buyers and purchasing agents. The job offers she cited were prospective (post-petition-filing date) and therefore could not establish eligibility at time of filing; additionally, purchasing manager median wages exceeded the offered salaries, so even those offers would not have satisfied the criterion.

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The Petitioner's actual earnings of $45,255–$48,067 fell below the BLS median wages for buyers and purchasing agents. The job offers she cited were prospective (post-petition-filing date) and therefore could not establish eligibility at time of filing; additionally, purchasing manager median wages exceeded the offered salaries, so even those offers would not have satisfied the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_02_B2203; source_row=20141
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO stated it need not conduct a full final merits determination since the Petitioner failed the initial evidentiary threshold, but alternatively found that even reviewing the aggregate record, the Petitioner had not achieved the level of expertise required.

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AAO stated it need not conduct a full final merits determination since the Petitioner failed the initial evidentiary threshold, but alternatively found that even reviewing the aggregate record, the Petitioner had not achieved the level of expertise required.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_02_B2203; source_row=20142
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why AAO was not persuaded

The judging evidence post-dated the January 2014 filing date and the Petitioner had never previously claimed this criterion. The letter was also conclusory, lacking details on the nature of judging responsibilities or confirmation that students are in the same or allied field.

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The judging evidence post-dated the January 2014 filing date and the Petitioner had never previously claimed this criterion. The letter was also conclusory, lacking details on the nature of judging responsibilities or confirmation that students are in the same or allied field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_01_B2203; source_row=20137
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letter affirming a 'critical' role was conclusory and unsupported by specific evidence. The record also lacked evidence that the organization has a distinguished reputation, and the Petitioner was not shown to be a site administrator at the time of the January 2014 filing.

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The letter affirming a 'critical' role was conclusory and unsupported by specific evidence. The record also lacked evidence that the organization has a distinguished reputation, and the Petitioner was not shown to be a site administrator at the time of the January 2014 filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_01_B2203; source_row=20138
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

AAO found that the reference letters praised the Petitioner's skills and talent but did not detail how his work significantly impacted the field as a whole. Outreach and mentoring activities were not shown to be original or to have impacted the field broadly, and impact limited to an organization or program does not satisfy the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the reference letters praised the Petitioner's skills and talent but did not detail how his work significantly impacted the field as a whole. Outreach and mentoring activities were not shown to be original or to have impacted the field broadly, and impact limited to an organization or program does not satisfy the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_03_B2203; source_row=20145
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 distinguished organization

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the totality of the evidence, including the appeal submissions, sufficiently established that the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role for the organization and that it enjoys a distinguished reputation, withdrawing the Director's adverse determination on this criterion.

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AAO found that the totality of the evidence, including the appeal submissions, sufficiently established that the Petitioner performed in a leading or critical role for the organization and that it enjoys a distinguished reputation, withdrawing the Director's adverse determination on this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_03_B2203; source_row=20146
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to formally conduct a final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the initial evidentiary requirements, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record would not support the classification.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to formally conduct a final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the initial evidentiary requirements, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record would not support the classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-19_01_B2203; source_row=20139
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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