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 19721–19730

NIWEB-1A · MembershipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why the evidence was persuasive

Letters attesting to the petitioner's membership in two professional music associations since 1994 and 2009 satisfy the plain wording of the regulation.

Why this is useful

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Letters attesting to the petitioner's membership in two professional music associations since 1994 and 2009 satisfy the plain wording of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18444
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that the petitioner's work as a composer, performer, and producer 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 work as a composer, performer, and producer has substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18446
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves national interest substantially greater than a U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's letters attested to his skill, originality, and social conscience, but did not establish a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole. Claims of global influence for his music genre were unsupported by documentary evidence, and the shift to emphasizing teaching was a material change from the original petition.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner's letters attested to his skill, originality, and social conscience, but did not establish a past record of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole. Claims of global influence for his music genre were unsupported by documentary evidence, and the shift to emphasizing teaching was a material change from the original petition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18448
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that touring performances and the widespread availability of the petitioner's recorded work on CD and download platforms is consistent with a finding of national scope.

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

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AAO agreed that touring performances and the widespread availability of the petitioner's recorded work on CD and download platforms is consistent with a finding of national scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18447
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license or certification

What the decision said

The petitioner did not claim to have satisfied this criterion.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner did not claim to have satisfied this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18442
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years full-time experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

New employment letters submitted on appeal conflicted with earlier claims and were not accepted because the director had already given the petitioner an opportunity to remedy the deficiency. Letters consistent with prior claims showed only part-time employment, and the earliest claimed employment was less than ten years before filing.

Why this is useful

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

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New employment letters submitted on appeal conflicted with earlier claims and were not accepted because the director had already given the petitioner an opportunity to remedy the deficiency. Letters consistent with prior claims showed only part-time employment, and the earliest claimed employment was less than ten years before filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18441
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner holds an intermediate degree in Technology and Music relating to composition with electroacoustic aids, satisfying the plain wording of the regulation.

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

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The petitioner holds an intermediate degree in Technology and Music relating to composition with electroacoustic aids, satisfying the plain wording of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18440
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

Certificates did not document achievements or significant contributions; government letters postdated the filing date or were prospective rather than commentary on known significance; contracts do not constitute recognition; new certificate on appeal was unsubstantiated.

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Certificates did not document achievements or significant contributions; government letters postdated the filing date or were prospective rather than commentary on known significance; contracts do not constitute recognition; new certificate on appeal was unsubstantiated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-17_01_B5203; source_row=18445
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

Photographs of medals and trophies do not show they were awarded to the beneficiary; the regulation requires documentation of the alien's receipt. Awards listing the beneficiary's name lack certified translations and thus have no probative value. No documentation explaining the national or international reputation of the awards was submitted.

Why this is useful

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

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Photographs of medals and trophies do not show they were awarded to the beneficiary; the regulation requires documentation of the alien's receipt. Awards listing the beneficiary's name lack certified translations and thus have no probative value. No documentation explaining the national or international reputation of the awards was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-10_01_B2203; source_row=18435
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The union membership evidence does not show that the association requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts; other documents lacked certified translations; a certificate of participation in a championship does not establish qualifying membership.

Why this is useful

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

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The union membership evidence does not show that the association requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts; other documents lacked certified translations; a certificate of participation in a championship does not establish qualifying membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-09-10_01_B2203; source_row=18436
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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