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 19341–19350

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 petitioner's gallery exhibitions and public art program participation amount to display of work, not contributions of major significance. Reference letters either used inapplicable standards (e.g., cultural property 'outstanding significance'), identified only two young rising artists influenced by the petitioner without showing field-wide impact, or were vague and uncorroborated.…

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner's gallery exhibitions and public art program participation amount to display of work, not contributions of major significance. Reference letters either used inapplicable standards (e.g., cultural property 'outstanding significance'), identified only two young rising artists influenced by the petitioner without showing field-wide impact, or were vague and uncorroborated. Commercial demand for the petitioner's work within one publisher's catalogue does not constitute a contribution of major significance in the field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_04_B2203; source_row=18868
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

Many of the submitted materials lacked author information, were advertisements or gallery event listings rather than articles about the petitioner, or did not mention the petitioner by name. The petitioner also failed to show that the remaining publications constitute professional or major trade publications or other major media.…

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

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Many of the submitted materials lacked author information, were advertisements or gallery event listings rather than articles about the petitioner, or did not mention the petitioner by name. The petitioner also failed to show that the remaining publications constitute professional or major trade publications or other major media. Photographs of the petitioner or her work, without substantive discussion, do not qualify as published material 'about the alien . . . relating to the alien's work.'
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_04_B2203; source_row=18867
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 solo exhibit opening is an event, not an organization or establishment, and the petitioner failed to show it had a distinguished reputation distinct from the gallery itself. The petitioner was one of approximately 400 artists regularly rotating through the gallery and did not show she performed a leading or critical role for the gallery as a whole.…

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

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The solo exhibit opening is an event, not an organization or establishment, and the petitioner failed to show it had a distinguished reputation distinct from the gallery itself. The petitioner was one of approximately 400 artists regularly rotating through the gallery and did not show she performed a leading or critical role for the gallery as a whole. Her participation in the public art program did not establish she had a leading or critical role, nor that the program had a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_04_B2203; source_row=18870
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 concluded in the alternative that the aggregate evidence does not show the petitioner has risen to the very top of the field with sustained national or international acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded in the alternative that the aggregate evidence does not show the petitioner has risen to the very top of the field with sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_06_B2203; source_row=18882
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 about the alien in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the submitted publications were local community papers without objective circulation evidence demonstrating major media status; Wikipedia and self-promotional publisher material were given no weight, and a letter asserting wide circulation was unsubstantiated.

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 submitted publications were local community papers without objective circulation evidence demonstrating major media status; Wikipedia and self-promotional publisher material were given no weight, and a letter asserting wide circulation was unsubstantiated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_06_B2203; source_row=18878
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 in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters offered conclusory praise of the petitioner's talent and style without specific examples of how his work has influenced other artists or impacted the field; sales, gallery displays, and pioneering a Prague gallery did not equate to artistic contributions of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the letters offered conclusory praise of the petitioner's talent and style without specific examples of how his work has influenced other artists or impacted the field; sales, gallery displays, and pioneering a Prague gallery did not equate to artistic contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_06_B2203; source_row=18880
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agrees the petitioner failed the third prong: his plans shifted between business and research, lacked supporting detail, and the record does not show his past research had any significant impact on the aerospace industry. AAO also notes the petitioner cannot make material changes to the petition after filing to cure deficiencies.

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 agrees the petitioner failed the third prong: his plans shifted between business and research, lacked supporting detail, and the record does not show his past research had any significant impact on the aerospace industry. AAO also notes the petitioner cannot make material changes to the petition after filing to cure deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_01_B5203; source_row=18854
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Finance100 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner provided no factual or legal bases for his assertions about the award's national recognition, the obituary did not establish that the petitioner's award (issued by a regional authority) enjoys national recognition, and the petitioner did not show that 'relevant and good professional services' equates to 'excellence in the field.'

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner provided no factual or legal bases for his assertions about the award's national recognition, the obituary did not establish that the petitioner's award (issued by a regional authority) enjoys national recognition, and the petitioner did not show that 'relevant and good professional services' equates to 'excellence in the field.'
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_02_B2203; source_row=18855
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Finance100 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded petitioner reiterated prior arguments without identifying any error or citing any legal authority. The petitioner did not provide constitutions, bylaws, or other evidence of association membership requirements, and demonstrating minimum proficiency through a competitive exam is not an outstanding achievement.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded petitioner reiterated prior arguments without identifying any error or citing any legal authority. The petitioner did not provide constitutions, bylaws, or other evidence of association membership requirements, and demonstrating minimum proficiency through a competitive exam is not an outstanding achievement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_02_B2203; source_row=18856
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Finance100 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The December 1999 article was about a new accounting examination and merely quoted petitioner; the November 2001 article was a Q&A about Brazilian currency that mentioned petitioner only in an introduction and photo caption. Neither is about the petitioner relating to his work, and the petitioner failed to provide certified translations of foreign-language materials.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The December 1999 article was about a new accounting examination and merely quoted petitioner; the November 2001 article was a Q&A about Brazilian currency that mentioned petitioner only in an introduction and photo caption. Neither is about the petitioner relating to his work, and the petitioner failed to provide certified translations of foreign-language materials.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_02_B2203; source_row=18857
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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