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 19641–19650

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted evidence of participation in musical performances and events, not receipt of prizes or awards. No documentary evidence of any prizes or awards as either performer or music instructor was submitted.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner submitted evidence of participation in musical performances and events, not receipt of prizes or awards. No documentary evidence of any prizes or awards as either performer or music instructor was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18524
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

The petitioner did not submit any evidence of authored scholarly articles in the field. Performances and instruction are not equivalent to authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The petitioner did not submit any evidence of authored scholarly articles in the field. Performances and instruction are not equivalent to authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18529
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 major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Flyers, programs, photographs, advertisements, and other promotional materials are not 'published material' as required by the regulation because they are not independent journalistic coverage. The documents also lacked required title, date, and author information, and there was no evidence of publication in professional or major trade publications or major media.

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

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Flyers, programs, photographs, advertisements, and other promotional materials are not 'published material' as required by the regulation because they are not independent journalistic coverage. The documents also lacked required title, date, and author information, and there was no evidence of publication in professional or major trade publications or major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18526
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

The petitioner did not demonstrate how her performances constitute original contributions of major significance, and the recommendation letters were vague and did not identify specific original contributions or explain how they had major significance in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner did not demonstrate how her performances constitute original contributions of major significance, and the recommendation letters were vague and did not identify specific original contributions or explain how they had major significance in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18528
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The recommendation letters did not provide specific information establishing that the petitioner performed in a leading or critical role, and the petitioner did not submit documentary evidence demonstrating that the organizations have a distinguished reputation.

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

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The recommendation letters did not provide specific information establishing that the petitioner performed in a leading or critical role, and the petitioner did not submit documentary evidence demonstrating that the organizations have a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18531
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although evidence showed the petitioner is a member of two associations, she did not submit any documentary evidence reflecting that membership in those associations requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.

Why this is useful

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Although evidence showed the petitioner is a member of two associations, she did not submit any documentary evidence reflecting that membership in those associations requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18525
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why AAO was not persuaded

Serving as a music instructor in a classroom setting does not constitute participation as a judge of the work of others. The criterion requires a formal designation in a judging capacity, either on a panel or individually.

Why this is useful

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

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Serving as a music instructor in a classroom setting does not constitute participation as a judge of the work of others. The criterion requires a formal designation in a judging capacity, either on a panel or individually.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18527
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree qualification (foreign equivalent of U.S. master's degree)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that four private credential evaluations were mutually inconsistent in their credit-hour analyses (ranging from 89 to 120 undergraduate credits for the same degree) and unsubstantiated by objective evidence, diminishing their persuasiveness. EDGE, a reliable peer-reviewed source, found the Indian master's degree comparable only to a U.S.…

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 four private credential evaluations were mutually inconsistent in their credit-hour analyses (ranging from 89 to 120 undergraduate credits for the same degree) and unsubstantiated by objective evidence, diminishing their persuasiveness. EDGE, a reliable peer-reviewed source, found the Indian master's degree comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree, and unsubstantiated claims about EDGE's prior different recommendations were insufficient to overcome EDGE's current findings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_03_B5203; source_row=18535
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 reserved the final merits determination because the petitioner failed to satisfy the antecedent requirement of three types of evidence under Step 1.

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AAO reserved the final merits determination because the petitioner failed to satisfy the antecedent requirement of three types of evidence under Step 1.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B2203; source_row=18532
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

On appeal, with additional evidence submitted, the petitioner demonstrated it more likely than not had the ability to pay the difference between wages paid to the beneficiary and the proffered wage of $96,762.00 per year from the June 7, 2011 priority date onward.

Why this is useful

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On appeal, with additional evidence submitted, the petitioner demonstrated it more likely than not had the ability to pay the difference between wages paid to the beneficiary and the proffered wage of $96,762.00 per year from the June 7, 2011 priority date onward.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-30_01_B5203; source_row=18533
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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