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 19191–19200

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found petitioner did not identify which letter or evidence demonstrated his position within an organization's hierarchy was consistent with a leading role or that his impact was consistent with a critical role.

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AAO found petitioner did not identify which letter or evidence demonstrated his position within an organization's hierarchy was consistent with a leading role or that his impact was consistent with a critical role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-26_02_B2203; source_row=19046
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that evidence postdating the filing date cannot establish eligibility, citing Matter of Katigbak, and that petitioner did not establish any manuscripts appeared in publications prior to filing.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that evidence postdating the filing date cannot establish eligibility, citing Matter of Katigbak, and that petitioner did not establish any manuscripts appeared in publications prior to filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-26_02_B2203; source_row=19045
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 the petitioner's generalized statement about the testimonies failed to explain how the director erred in concluding that the references discussed skill and experience without showing influence at a level consistent with contributions 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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AAO found the petitioner's generalized statement about the testimonies failed to explain how the director erred in concluding that the references discussed skill and experience without showing influence at a level consistent with contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-26_02_B2203; source_row=19044
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 or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

The director did not err in not addressing this criterion as it was not claimed until appeal. The new evidence on appeal is not persuasive because the supporting letter is unsigned and therefore has no probative value.

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The director did not err in not addressing this criterion as it was not claimed until appeal. The new evidence on appeal is not persuasive because the supporting letter is unsigned and therefore has no probative value.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-26_01_B2203; source_row=19038
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 failed to satisfy the step-1 threshold of at least three criteria, but noted the aggregate evidence would not support eligibility.

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AAO declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the petitioner failed to satisfy the step-1 threshold of at least three criteria, but noted the aggregate evidence would not support eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-26_01_B2203; source_row=19040
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

Petitioner did not address this criterion on appeal and therefore abandoned the claim.

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Petitioner did not address this criterion on appeal and therefore abandoned the claim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-26_02_B2203; source_row=19041
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 did not conduct a formal final merits determination because the petitioner failed to meet the step-1 threshold, but noted that even in aggregate the evidence does not demonstrate the required level of expertise.

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AAO did not conduct a formal final merits determination because the petitioner failed to meet the step-1 threshold, but noted that even in aggregate the evidence does not demonstrate the required level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-26_03_B2203; source_row=19052
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 withdrew the director's favorable finding, concluding that the evidence relied upon consisted only of unsubstantiated claims from the awarding entity's own website without independent corroboration, and that the criterion requires more than a single award. Awards given to the petitioner's employer rather than to the petitioner individually also did not qualify.

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AAO withdrew the director's favorable finding, concluding that the evidence relied upon consisted only of unsubstantiated claims from the awarding entity's own website without independent corroboration, and that the criterion requires more than a single award. Awards given to the petitioner's employer rather than to the petitioner individually also did not qualify.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B2203; source_row=19021
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO rejected the petitioner's parsing of the regulation, affirming that the criterion applies to visual artists and requires exhibitions or showcases to be artistic in nature. AAO also found that the new claim regarding a Washington exhibition was unsupported and untimely, as there was no evidence the work was displayed prior to filing or at more than one exhibition.

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AAO rejected the petitioner's parsing of the regulation, affirming that the criterion applies to visual artists and requires exhibitions or showcases to be artistic in nature. AAO also found that the new claim regarding a Washington exhibition was unsupported and untimely, as there was no evidence the work was displayed prior to filing or at more than one exhibition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B2203; source_row=19024
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the director that the submitted materials were images of the petitioner's work in promotional materials, not scholarly articles authored by the petitioner. AAO also rejected the comparable evidence argument, finding that the petitioner had not demonstrated the regulatory criteria did not apply to his occupation and that submitting images of work is not comparable to authoring scholarly articles.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with the director that the submitted materials were images of the petitioner's work in promotional materials, not scholarly articles authored by the petitioner. AAO also rejected the comparable evidence argument, finding that the petitioner had not demonstrated the regulatory criteria did not apply to his occupation and that submitting images of work is not comparable to authoring scholarly articles.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B2203; source_row=19023
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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