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 19311–19320

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

AAO found that statements from contest organizers/judges did not show recognition beyond those who issued the awards, and there was no documentary evidence corroborating that the awards were nationally or internationally recognized.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found that statements from contest organizers/judges did not show recognition beyond those who issued the awards, and there was no documentary evidence corroborating that the awards were nationally or internationally recognized.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_03_B2203; source_row=18907
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 declined to perform a full final merits determination because step 1 was not satisfied, but observed in aggregate that the evidence did not show the required level of expertise.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO declined to perform a full final merits determination because step 1 was not satisfied, but observed in aggregate that the evidence did not show the required level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_03_B2203; source_row=18913
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 significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner failed to provide documentary evidence of actual earnings (e.g., tax records) and did not present a proper basis for comparison with others in his field; media designations as 'famous' do not equate to high salary.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO found the petitioner failed to provide documentary evidence of actual earnings (e.g., tax records) and did not present a proper basis for comparison with others in his field; media designations as 'famous' do not equate to high salary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_03_B2203; source_row=18911
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

Intrinsic merit of the field of business development was not disputed.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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Intrinsic merit of the field of business development was not disputed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_01_B5203; source_row=18900
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

National scope was not disputed.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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National scope was not disputed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_01_B5203; source_row=18901
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest to a substantially greater degree than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds petitioner's training in (rather than authorship of) the Balanced Scorecard does not constitute a contribution comparable to inventing it; the method is already in widespread use; and her unsupported claim of pioneering a new combined approach, plus the new letter from a charity co-founder, do not establish significant impact on the field.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO finds petitioner's training in (rather than authorship of) the Balanced Scorecard does not constitute a contribution comparable to inventing it; the method is already in widespread use; and her unsupported claim of pioneering a new combined approach, plus the new letter from a charity co-founder, do not establish significant impact on the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_01_B5203; source_row=18902
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirmed the director's finding that this criterion was met.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO affirmed the director's finding that this criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_03_B2203; source_row=18910
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO had previously determined in the appellate decision that the petitioner met this criterion.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO had previously determined in the appellate decision that the petitioner met this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-29_03_B2203; source_row=18909
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

26 months of qualifying experience required by labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO independently reviewed the experience letters and found them inconsistent with each other, with the ETA Form 9089, with the Form G-325A, and with the IRS Forms 1099; found that internships pursued for educational credit (CPT/Capstone) cannot be counted toward the experience requirement; and found that experience with the petitioner cannot be credited because the position was substantially comparable to the proffered pos…

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

View full reasoning +
AAO independently reviewed the experience letters and found them inconsistent with each other, with the ETA Form 9089, with the Form G-325A, and with the IRS Forms 1099; found that internships pursued for educational credit (CPT/Capstone) cannot be counted toward the experience requirement; and found that experience with the petitioner cannot be credited because the position was substantially comparable to the proffered position.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-24_01_B5203; source_row=18893
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Position offered qualifies as advanced degree professional

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO holds that the labor certification's alternate requirements—'Other' education with 4 years of experience, reducible to a bachelor's plus 2 years for the specified fields—fall below the statutory threshold of an advanced degree or a baccalaureate plus five years of progressive specialty experience.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO holds that the labor certification's alternate requirements—'Other' education with 4 years of experience, reducible to a bachelor's plus 2 years for the specified fields—fall below the statutory threshold of an advanced degree or a baccalaureate plus five years of progressive specialty experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-23_02_B5203; source_row=18891
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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