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 20271–20280

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

The estimated circulation of about 28,000 fell well below the 50,000–200,000 range of popular Iranian daily newspapers, and the petitioner's own submitted background information undermined the expert's claims. The publication was not established to constitute major media on a national or international scale.

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The estimated circulation of about 28,000 fell well below the 50,000–200,000 range of popular Iranian daily newspapers, and the petitioner's own submitted background information undermined the expert's claims. The publication was not established to constitute major media on a national or international scale.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_02_B2203; source_row=17794
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 guild's constitution has a broad definition of qualifying performances and allows membership based on professional production or publication, not outstanding achievement. Additionally, the record does not show that national or international experts judge membership applicants.

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The guild's constitution has a broad definition of qualifying performances and allows membership based on professional production or publication, not outstanding achievement. Additionally, the record does not show that national or international experts judge membership applicants.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_01_B2203; source_row=17783
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's role as assistant/associate conductor on a large touring production did not demonstrate that he was responsible for the commercial success of the show, and the receipts from another production showed modest ticket sales and weekly grosses far below comparable shows.

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The petitioner's role as assistant/associate conductor on a large touring production did not demonstrate that he was responsible for the commercial success of the show, and the receipts from another production showed modest ticket sales and weekly grosses far below comparable shows.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_01_B2203; source_row=17791
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 with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The size and self-proclaimed innovations of one employer do not establish a distinguished reputation, and USCIS need not rely on an entity's own vague claims of prestige. While a recording group with a platinum debut album had a distinguished reputation, the petitioner failed to show that the group is an organization or establishment for purposes of the criterion.

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The size and self-proclaimed innovations of one employer do not establish a distinguished reputation, and USCIS need not rely on an entity's own vague claims of prestige. While a recording group with a platinum debut album had a distinguished reputation, the petitioner failed to show that the group is an organization or establishment for purposes of the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_01_B2203; source_row=17789
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 letters discuss the petitioner's unique talents and commercial viability of his work, but do not provide specific examples of how his innovations impacted the field as a whole. Commercial viability is not evidence of past significant contributions with an impact on 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 letters discuss the petitioner's unique talents and commercial viability of his work, but do not provide specific examples of how his innovations impacted the field as a whole. Commercial viability is not evidence of past significant contributions with an impact on the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_01_B2203; source_row=17786
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

A local shortage of special education teachers does not justify a national interest waiver because the labor certification process addresses local shortages. The petitioner already had an approved labor certification and approved petition, and her credentials (master's degree, full certification) were commonly held in her field. She did not demonstrate influence on the field as a whole.

Why this is useful

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

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A local shortage of special education teachers does not justify a national interest waiver because the labor certification process addresses local shortages. The petitioner already had an approved labor certification and approved petition, and her credentials (master's degree, full certification) were commonly held in her field. She did not demonstrate influence on the field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_03_B5203; source_row=17803
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed with the director that the record supports meeting this criterion.

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The AAO agreed with the director that the record supports meeting this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_02_B2203; source_row=17795
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

Secondary evidence (published articles) lacked probative value because the petitioner did not show primary evidence was unavailable. The organizer's own letter was insufficient to establish national or international recognition beyond those associated with the organizing entity, and the record lacked details such as the number of recipients, selection criteria, and reputation of the organizing panels.

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Secondary evidence (published articles) lacked probative value because the petitioner did not show primary evidence was unavailable. The organizer's own letter was insufficient to establish national or international recognition beyond those associated with the organizing entity, and the record lacked details such as the number of recipients, selection criteria, and reputation of the organizing panels.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_02_B2203; source_row=17793
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found sufficient documentation in the record to meet the plain language requirements of this criterion.

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The AAO found sufficient documentation in the record to meet the plain language requirements of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_02_B2203; source_row=17796
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

The AAO declined to conduct a final merits determination because the petitioner did not satisfy the threshold requirement of three types of qualifying evidence.

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The AAO declined to conduct a final merits determination because the petitioner did not satisfy the threshold requirement of three types of qualifying evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-07_01_B2203; source_row=17792
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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