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 19461–19470

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's review of a Nanobiotechnology proposal satisfied the judging criterion.

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AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's review of a Nanobiotechnology proposal satisfied the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_01_B2203; source_row=18726
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

The intrinsic merit of the petitioner's occupation as a special education teacher is not in dispute.

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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The intrinsic merit of the petitioner's occupation as a special education teacher is not in dispute.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_04_B5203; source_row=18745
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's classroom teaching is inherently local in scope per NYSDOT. His educational website lacked evidence of actual national-scope content or traffic, his books published in the Philippines were not shown to have relevance to U.S. special education, his U.S.…

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner's classroom teaching is inherently local in scope per NYSDOT. His educational website lacked evidence of actual national-scope content or traffic, his books published in the Philippines were not shown to have relevance to U.S. special education, his U.S. publications were poetry and religious music unrelated to special education, and his proposed foundation did not yet exist and could not retroactively qualify him. General assertions about nationwide educational benefit were unsupported by evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_04_B5203; source_row=18746
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not contest the director's finding that national scope was established.

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AAO did not contest the director's finding that national scope was established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_06_B5203; source_row=18749
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the petitioner failed to demonstrate a past record of achievement with sufficient influence on the field as a whole. His role was primarily as a research assistant conducting literature reviews, the single citation from Polish researchers was insufficient, the proposed lifestyle program was entirely speculative, and the claimed $218 billion savings figure appeared to pertain to all chronic illness rather than med…

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AAO agreed the petitioner failed to demonstrate a past record of achievement with sufficient influence on the field as a whole. His role was primarily as a research assistant conducting literature reviews, the single citation from Polish researchers was insufficient, the proposed lifestyle program was entirely speculative, and the claimed $218 billion savings figure appeared to pertain to all chronic illness rather than medulloblastoma specifically.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_06_B5203; source_row=18750
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not contest the director's finding that intrinsic merit was established.

Why this is useful

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AAO did not contest the director's finding that intrinsic merit was established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_06_B5203; source_row=18748
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree qualification at time of filing

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that because the petitioner was still a doctoral student at filing and had not provided details about intended employment, it could not be determined whether a doctorate was required. Without that showing, the petitioner failed to establish eligibility as of the filing date.

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AAO found that because the petitioner was still a doctoral student at filing and had not provided details about intended employment, it could not be determined whether a doctorate was required. Without that showing, the petitioner failed to establish eligibility as of the filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_06_B5203; source_row=18751
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 trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner merely referred to previously submitted materials without contesting the director's specific findings; a passing reference without substantive argument is insufficient to raise an issue on appeal.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner merely referred to previously submitted materials without contesting the director's specific findings; a passing reference without substantive argument is insufficient to raise an issue on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_02_B2203; source_row=18733
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

The record contained sufficient documentary evidence that the petitioner participated in the selection of national team members, satisfying the plain language requirements of the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

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The record contained sufficient documentary evidence that the petitioner participated in the selection of national team members, satisfying the plain language requirements of the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_02_B2203; source_row=18734
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO confirmed the director's finding that the petitioner meets the prizes or awards criterion.

Why this is useful

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The AAO confirmed the director's finding that the petitioner meets the prizes or awards criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-18_02_B2203; source_row=18731
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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