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 19501–19510

NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical20 papers

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO withdrew the director's finding on national scope, noting that while clinical and instructional duties lack national scope, the record shows the petitioner continues to conduct research and disseminate findings through presentations and publications.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the director's finding on national scope, noting that while clinical and instructional duties lack national scope, the record shows the petitioner continues to conduct research and disseminate findings through presentations and publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-05_02_B5203; source_row=18702
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 – sustained national or international acclaim at the very top of the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the evidence insufficient to demonstrate sustained acclaim, noting the absence of any evidence from 2009 to 2013, untranslated foreign documents receiving no probative weight, sparse published materials, and overall evidence falling short of distinguishing the petitioner as among the very top 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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AAO found the evidence insufficient to demonstrate sustained acclaim, noting the absence of any evidence from 2009 to 2013, untranslated foreign documents receiving no probative weight, sparse published materials, and overall evidence falling short of distinguishing the petitioner as among the very top in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_01_B2203; source_row=18667
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 professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that several items lacked required author and/or date information, some were not about the petitioner, and the petitioner failed to establish that cited websites qualify as major media. Even assuming one qualifying item, the plural regulatory language requires more than one qualifying publication.

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 several items lacked required author and/or date information, some were not about the petitioner, and the petitioner failed to establish that cited websites qualify as major media. Even assuming one qualifying item, the plural regulatory language requires more than one qualifying publication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_01_B2203; source_row=18663
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's record shows activities typical of house staff in training and that she has not demonstrated a past record of achievement with sufficient influence on the field as a whole to justify the waiver. Expert letters were not corroborated, the only citation found was a self-citation, and the petitioner's roles were consistent with typical trainees rather than outstanding contributors.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that the petitioner's record shows activities typical of house staff in training and that she has not demonstrated a past record of achievement with sufficient influence on the field as a whole to justify the waiver. Expert letters were not corroborated, the only citation found was a self-citation, and the petitioner's roles were consistent with typical trainees rather than outstanding contributors.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_02_B5203; source_row=18674
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found a trade union membership does not indicate exceptional ability and the petitioner himself acknowledged such memberships are ordinarily encountered in the field; AAO did not find restrictions on membership.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found a trade union membership does not indicate exceptional ability and the petitioner himself acknowledged such memberships are ordinarily encountered in the field; AAO did not find restrictions on membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_07_B5203; source_row=18691
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed contracts in isolation cannot show that compensation demonstrates exceptional ability without a basis for comparison; petitioner abandoned the issue on appeal by not addressing it.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed contracts in isolation cannot show that compensation demonstrates exceptional ability without a basis for comparison; petitioner abandoned the issue on appeal by not addressing it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_07_B5203; source_row=18690
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner failed to demonstrate existing national impact sufficient to warrant a waiver. The recommendation letters were largely speculative about future results from unfinished projects; citation counts were minimal (five total citations); awards were limited to a single training institution; the claimed shortage of physicians in the subspecialty does not qualify as a waiver ground; and eligibility must be e…

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 found the petitioner failed to demonstrate existing national impact sufficient to warrant a waiver. The recommendation letters were largely speculative about future results from unfinished projects; citation counts were minimal (five total citations); awards were limited to a single training institution; the claimed shortage of physicians in the subspecialty does not qualify as a waiver ground; and eligibility must be established at the time of filing based on past record, not anticipated future results.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_05_B5203; source_row=18683
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

member of the professions holding an advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the director's grant of this point was unsupported. The petitioner neither cited evidence that oriental medicine requires a degree for entry into the occupation, nor established foreign degree equivalency to U.S. advanced degrees.

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 director's grant of this point was unsupported. The petitioner neither cited evidence that oriental medicine requires a degree for entry into the occupation, nor established foreign degree equivalency to U.S. advanced degrees.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_06_B5203; source_row=18687
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social SciencesResearcher

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

benefit to national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found petitioner had not shown a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole; she field-tested others' methods rather than developing the pedagogy. A claimed local shortage of bilingual teachers is addressed by labor certification, and in fact a labor certification was successfully obtained on her behalf.

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 found petitioner had not shown a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole; she field-tested others' methods rather than developing the pedagogy. A claimed local shortage of bilingual teachers is addressed by labor certification, and in fact a labor certification was successfully obtained on her behalf.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_01_B5203; source_row=18671
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's occupation as a pediatric hematologist/oncologist has substantial intrinsic merit.

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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AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's occupation as a pediatric hematologist/oncologist has substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-11-04_02_B5203; source_row=18672
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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