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 19931–19940

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 provided newspaper articles about the petitioner and his work, but failed to submit probative evidence demonstrating the publications qualified as professional or major trade publications or other major media. Some articles were about the band rather than the petitioner, and those that merely mention the petitioner's position within a group do not equate to published material about him.

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The petitioner provided newspaper articles about the petitioner and his work, but failed to submit probative evidence demonstrating the publications qualified as professional or major trade publications or other major media. Some articles were about the band rather than the petitioner, and those that merely mention the petitioner's position within a group do not equate to published material about him.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=18189
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

Display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner claimed jazz festival performances as qualifying, but AAO held that criterion (vii) is limited to visual arts and that a musical performance is not a 'display.' The petitioner is not a visual artist and has not created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases.

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The petitioner claimed jazz festival performances as qualifying, but AAO held that criterion (vii) is limited to visual arts and that a musical performance is not a 'display.' The petitioner is not a visual artist and has not created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=18191
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

Commercial successes in the performing arts as shown by box office receipts or record/cassette/CD/video sales

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner relied on chart placement and an article indicating an album sold over 150,000 copies, but the record lacked probative evidence of the petitioner's sufficient involvement with the album to establish those sales constituted his commercial success. Chart placement was not shown to be based on sales.

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The petitioner relied on chart placement and an article indicating an album sold over 150,000 copies, but the record lacked probative evidence of the petitioner's sufficient involvement with the album to establish those sales constituted his commercial success. Chart placement was not shown to be based on sales.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=18193
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

Lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's award documentation lacked source information, preventing USCIS verification. There was no primary evidence of the petitioner's receipt of any award individually or as a group member.…

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The petitioner's award documentation lacked source information, preventing USCIS verification. There was no primary evidence of the petitioner's receipt of any award individually or as a group member. The petitioner failed to demonstrate he was a recipient of the 2008 solo award, the evidence of the 2006 group award carried very little weight due to unverifiable sources, and the regulation requires 'prizes or awards' in the plural.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=18188
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 organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's evidence of the musical groups' distinguished reputations largely lacked identifiable sources and carried diminished evidentiary weight. For the one group with documented distinguished reputation, the petitioner failed to establish he performed in a leading or critical role. For other groups, no independent evidence of distinguished reputation was provided.

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The petitioner's evidence of the musical groups' distinguished reputations largely lacked identifiable sources and carried diminished evidentiary weight. For the one group with documented distinguished reputation, the petitioner failed to establish he performed in a leading or critical role. For other groups, no independent evidence of distinguished reputation was provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=18192
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner failed to document receipt of most claimed awards, that academic scholarships and fellowships are not awards for excellence in a field of endeavor, that research grants fund future work rather than recognize excellence, and that visiting scholar status is employment rather than an award.

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AAO found the petitioner failed to document receipt of most claimed awards, that academic scholarships and fellowships are not awards for excellence in a field of endeavor, that research grants fund future work rather than recognize excellence, and that visiting scholar status is employment rather than an award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=18181
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-time achievement (major internationally recognized award)

What the decision said

The petitioner initially claimed awards as a one-time achievement, but after the RFE notified him they were insufficient, he did not contest that conclusion and did not assert eligibility under this provision on appeal. AAO deemed the claim abandoned.

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The petitioner initially claimed awards as a one-time achievement, but after the RFE notified him they were insufficient, he did not contest that conclusion and did not assert eligibility under this provision on appeal. AAO deemed the claim abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_02_B2203; source_row=18187
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the signed support letters were complimentary but addressed potential future impact rather than demonstrated impact on the field as a whole; unsigned letters had no probative value; book inclusion lacked supporting evidence of the texts' impact; download counts without citations did not show impact; and conference participation is inherent to post-secondary teaching.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the signed support letters were complimentary but addressed potential future impact rather than demonstrated impact on the field as a whole; unsigned letters had no probative value; book inclusion lacked supporting evidence of the texts' impact; download counts without citations did not show impact; and conference participation is inherent to post-secondary teaching.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=18184
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director's determination.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed with the director's determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=18185
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

AAO found the petitioner did not raise this issue on appeal and therefore abandoned the claim.

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AAO found the petitioner did not raise this issue on appeal and therefore abandoned the claim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-16_01_B2203; source_row=18182
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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