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 19161–19170

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's awards were earned as a competitive swimmer, not as a coach. Since the field for which classification is sought is coaching, swimming awards do not establish national or international recognition as a coach.

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The petitioner's awards were earned as a competitive swimmer, not as a coach. Since the field for which classification is sought is coaching, swimming awards do not establish national or international recognition as a coach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=19063
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

The submitted articles lacked properly certified translations meeting the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3) and could not be accorded probative weight. Additionally, the articles related to competitive swimming, not coaching, and there was no circulation evidence showing the publications were major media.

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The submitted articles lacked properly certified translations meeting the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3) and could not be accorded probative weight. Additionally, the articles related to competitive swimming, not coaching, and there was no circulation evidence showing the publications were major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=19065
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 remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the petitioner's earned salary was substantially below average salaries in his professions, his dividend income from his business was not evidence of salary as a writer/speaker/magician, and the average/median salary comparisons did not establish that his earnings were high in relation to others in the field.

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The AAO found that the petitioner's earned salary was substantially below average salaries in his professions, his dividend income from his business was not evidence of salary as a writer/speaker/magician, and the average/median salary comparisons did not establish that his earnings were high in relation to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_02_B2203; source_row=19074
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

The AAO found that the letters confirmed the petitioner provided lectures and shows but did not provide specific information establishing a leading or critical role, and that occasional or one-time performances do not rise to the level required by this criterion.

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The AAO found that the letters confirmed the petitioner provided lectures and shows but did not provide specific information establishing a leading or critical role, and that occasional or one-time performances do not rise to the level required by this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_02_B2203; source_row=19073
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

artistic display at exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO upheld the director's interpretation that this criterion is limited to the visual arts, and since the petitioner is not a visual artist and has not created tangible pieces of art displayed at artistic exhibitions, the criterion is not met.

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The AAO upheld the director's interpretation that this criterion is limited to the visual arts, and since the petitioner is not a visual artist and has not created tangible pieces of art displayed at artistic exhibitions, the criterion is not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_02_B2203; source_row=19072
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

The AAO found that the letters and evidence submitted showed only individual or limited impact rather than major significance in the field as a whole, and that authorship and publication of books and CDs alone is insufficient without evidence of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found that the letters and evidence submitted showed only individual or limited impact rather than major significance in the field as a whole, and that authorship and publication of books and CDs alone is insufficient without evidence of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_02_B2203; source_row=19071
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

The AAO found that the petitioner failed to provide compliant full translations, failed to establish that publications qualify as professional or major trade publications or other major media, and failed to include the date and/or author for many articles.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found that the petitioner failed to provide compliant full translations, failed to establish that publications qualify as professional or major trade publications or other major media, and failed to include the date and/or author for many articles.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_02_B2203; source_row=19070
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

The AAO withdrew the director's erroneous interpretation that the criterion requires more than one award, but still concluded the criterion was not met because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that either the [REDACTED] Award or the [REDACTED] awards are nationally or internationally recognized for excellence beyond the awarding entity.

Why this is useful

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The AAO withdrew the director's erroneous interpretation that the criterion requires more than one award, but still concluded the criterion was not met because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that either the [REDACTED] Award or the [REDACTED] awards are nationally or internationally recognized for excellence beyond the awarding entity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_02_B2203; source_row=19068
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 declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the petitioner did not satisfy the antecedent requirement of meeting at least three criteria, though AAO noted the aggregate evidence was insufficient.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the petitioner did not satisfy the antecedent requirement of meeting at least three criteria, though AAO noted the aggregate evidence was insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=19067
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

The petitioner did not contest the director's findings on this criterion or offer additional arguments on appeal, so the issue was deemed abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner did not contest the director's findings on this criterion or offer additional arguments on appeal, so the issue was deemed abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=19066
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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