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 18831–18840

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Congressional Recognition certificate reflected only local recognition; the county commendation was filed after the petition date and also reflected only local recognition; the CNKI data report did not identify the specific journal or its readership; and the Baidu search engine data did not identify the original source of the information.…

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The Congressional Recognition certificate reflected only local recognition; the county commendation was filed after the petition date and also reflected only local recognition; the CNKI data report did not identify the specific journal or its readership; and the Baidu search engine data did not identify the original source of the information. None of the awards were shown to be nationally or internationally recognized at the required level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-10_01_B2203; source_row=19418
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 professional or major trade publications or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

There was no objective comparative evidence showing the magazine's circulation relative to other publications. The television interview did not constitute 'published material about the alien' as required by the regulatory plain language, and the petitioner did not submit a complete transcript demonstrating the interview was about her work.

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There was no objective comparative evidence showing the magazine's circulation relative to other publications. The television interview did not constitute 'published material about the alien' as required by the regulatory plain language, and the petitioner did not submit a complete transcript demonstrating the interview was about her work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-10_01_B2203; source_row=19420
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

commercial successes in the performing arts

Why AAO was not persuaded

The event programs reflected performances after the petition filing date and thus could not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Additionally, the petitioner submitted no sales figures or receipts demonstrating commercial success.

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The event programs reflected performances after the petition filing date and thus could not establish eligibility at the time of filing. Additionally, the petitioner submitted no sales figures or receipts demonstrating commercial success.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-10_01_B2203; source_row=19426
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 stated it need not provide a formal final merits determination because the petitioner failed the step-1 threshold, but noted in dicta that the aggregate evidence does not support sustained national or international acclaim.

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AAO stated it need not provide a formal final merits determination because the petitioner failed the step-1 threshold, but noted in dicta that the aggregate evidence does not support sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-10_01_B2203; source_row=19427
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the petitioner's expert letters were largely vague, conclusory, or forward-looking, and that the citation record (59 total citations across 7 articles, with some uncited) did not demonstrate an impact consistent with a contribution of major significance. Individual letters did not provide specific examples of how the petitioner's work significantly impacted the field at large.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO agreed that the petitioner's expert letters were largely vague, conclusory, or forward-looking, and that the citation record (59 total citations across 7 articles, with some uncited) did not demonstrate an impact consistent with a contribution of major significance. Individual letters did not provide specific examples of how the petitioner's work significantly impacted the field at large.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-08_01_B2203; source_row=19415
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that neither the travel award (given to 21 new investigators) nor the selection as one of 400 poster presenters constituted a nationally or internationally recognized prize for excellence. Evidence of qualified judges and a prestigious issuing entity alone does not establish national or international recognition; there was no media coverage or wider field recognition beyond the petitioner's employer.

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The AAO found that neither the travel award (given to 21 new investigators) nor the selection as one of 400 poster presenters constituted a nationally or internationally recognized prize for excellence. Evidence of qualified judges and a prestigious issuing entity alone does not establish national or international recognition; there was no media coverage or wider field recognition beyond the petitioner's employer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-08_01_B2203; source_row=19411
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

The AAO explicitly declined to reach a formal final merits determination because the petitioner did not clear the step-1 threshold, while noting in dicta that the aggregate evidence would not support the classification.

Why this is useful

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The AAO explicitly declined to reach a formal final merits determination because the petitioner did not clear the step-1 threshold, while noting in dicta that the aggregate evidence would not support the classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-08_01_B2203; source_row=19417
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed that the petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of reviewing manuscripts to satisfy this criterion.

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The AAO agreed that the petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of reviewing manuscripts to satisfy this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-08_01_B2203; source_row=19414
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed that the petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of multiple authored articles published in scholarly journals to satisfy this criterion.

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The AAO agreed that the petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of multiple authored articles published in scholarly journals to satisfy this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-08_01_B2203; source_row=19416
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Bona fide job opportunity

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's own website stated that the two companies merged to form a new entity, contradicting the retraction. AAO found that the Florida corporate records showing two separate entities did not independently and objectively demonstrate that the petitioner continues to have a bona fide job opportunity for a business development manager.

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The petitioner's own website stated that the two companies merged to form a new entity, contradicting the retraction. AAO found that the Florida corporate records showing two separate entities did not independently and objectively demonstrate that the petitioner continues to have a bona fide job opportunity for a business development manager.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-06-05_01_B5203; source_row=19407
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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