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 18661–18670

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner did not establish how the beneficiary fit within the organizational hierarchy or demonstrated his impact on the organizations. As a student-athlete, competing as one of several student athletes does not constitute a leading or critical role.…

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AAO found that the petitioner did not establish how the beneficiary fit within the organizational hierarchy or demonstrated his impact on the organizations. As a student-athlete, competing as one of several student athletes does not constitute a leading or critical role. For the performance organization, the Artistic Director's letter did not explain how the beneficiary's role differentiated him from numerous other performers or his impact on the organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_02_B2203; source_row=19610
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 in major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the director that the newspaper coverage was insufficient. Regarding television appearances, AAO found the appearances were about the performance troupe, not about the beneficiary and his work, citing Negro-Plumpe v. Okin.

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AAO agreed with the director that the newspaper coverage was insufficient. Regarding television appearances, AAO found the appearances were about the performance troupe, not about the beneficiary and his work, citing Negro-Plumpe v. Okin.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_02_B2203; source_row=19608
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 that a formal final merits determination was unnecessary because the petitioner did not meet the antecedent step-1 threshold, but noted that an aggregate review of all evidence nonetheless supported a finding that the petitioner had not demonstrated the requisite level of expertise.

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AAO stated that a formal final merits determination was unnecessary because the petitioner did not meet the antecedent step-1 threshold, but noted that an aggregate review of all evidence nonetheless supported a finding that the petitioner had not demonstrated the requisite level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_02_B2203; source_row=19611
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner failed to show her association requires outstanding achievements of its members judged by recognized national or international experts. The IMDB profile does not establish membership in an association accepting members with outstanding achievement requirements. Foreign language documents lacked certified English translations and did not establish membership meeting the criterion's requirements.

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The petitioner failed to show her association requires outstanding achievements of its members judged by recognized national or international experts. The IMDB profile does not establish membership in an association accepting members with outstanding achievement requirements. Foreign language documents lacked certified English translations and did not establish membership meeting the criterion's requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=19601
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner failed to show that the website constitutes major media, as no information on its reach, readership, or distribution was provided. Additionally, the articles lack hallmarks of scholarly work such as citations, charts, or peer review, and instead reflect personal opinions not reviewed by others in the field.

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The petitioner failed to show that the website constitutes major media, as no information on its reach, readership, or distribution was provided. Additionally, the articles lack hallmarks of scholarly work such as citations, charts, or peer review, and instead reflect personal opinions not reviewed by others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=19604
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 for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letters and emails submitted were conclusory and lacked specific information about the petitioner's title, duties, or impact within the organization. Being one of many presenters at a regional conference does not constitute a leading or critical role. Additionally, the organization's distinguished reputation was not established.

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The letters and emails submitted were conclusory and lacked specific information about the petitioner's title, duties, or impact within the organization. Being one of many presenters at a regional conference does not constitute a leading or critical role. Additionally, the organization's distinguished reputation was not established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=19605
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not demonstrate that her book, app, or public engagements had an impact on the field of psychology as a whole at a level consistent with contributions of major significance. Reference letters were conclusory, book reviews were minimal, the app release postdated the petition filing, and public engagements showed dissemination but not field-wide impact.

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The petitioner did not demonstrate that her book, app, or public engagements had an impact on the field of psychology as a whole at a level consistent with contributions of major significance. Reference letters were conclusory, book reviews were minimal, the app release postdated the petition filing, and public engagements showed dissemination but not field-wide impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=19603
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

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 the evidence was persuasive

AAO had previously concluded on appeal that the petitioner met this criterion. Her appearance on a television show broadcast on a major television channel constitutes published material about her in major media relating to her work as a dream analyst.

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AAO had previously concluded on appeal that the petitioner met this criterion. Her appearance on a television show broadcast on a major television channel constitutes published material about her in major media relating to her work as a dream analyst.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_01_B2203; source_row=19602
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 coaching students to succeed at state and regional levels, and letters attesting to the beneficiary's skills, did not demonstrate an impact in the field as a whole. The beneficiary's students' awards were not shown to have been won primarily under his tutelage, and no evidence of new training methods or techniques that impacted the broader field was provided.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that coaching students to succeed at state and regional levels, and letters attesting to the beneficiary's skills, did not demonstrate an impact in the field as a whole. The beneficiary's students' awards were not shown to have been won primarily under his tutelage, and no evidence of new training methods or techniques that impacted the broader field was provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-12_02_B2203; source_row=19609
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,014 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that performances by a martial arts performer do not constitute display of work in the sense contemplated by criterion (vii), which is limited to visual arts. Post-filing performances could not be considered, and the petitioner had not created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases.

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AAO held that performances by a martial arts performer do not constitute display of work in the sense contemplated by criterion (vii), which is limited to visual arts. Post-filing performances could not be considered, and the petitioner had not created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-08-10_01_B2203; source_row=19598
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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