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 20331–20340

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

Participation in competitions, programs, internships, and training activities does not constitute a prize or award. Academic scholarships are training-related and do not recognize excellence in the field. None of the submitted items are nationally or internationally recognized as prizes or awards for excellence 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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Participation in competitions, programs, internships, and training activities does not constitute a prize or award. Academic scholarships are training-related and do not recognize excellence in the field. None of the submitted items are nationally or internationally recognized as prizes or awards for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B2203; source_row=17727
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

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 Brooklyn Daily Eagle's circulation figures (10,000 print readers/day and ~250,000 online readers/month) are consistent with a local publication, not major media. The director's conclusion was proper.

Why this is useful

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

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The Brooklyn Daily Eagle's circulation figures (10,000 print readers/day and ~250,000 online readers/month) are consistent with a local publication, not major media. The director's conclusion was proper.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B2203; source_row=17729
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

The regulation uses 'scholarly articles' in the plural, which is consistent with the statutory requirement for extensive evidence. Having authored only one article is insufficient to meet the plain language requirement of multiple scholarly articles.

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 regulation uses 'scholarly articles' in the plural, which is consistent with the statutory requirement for extensive evidence. Having authored only one article is insufficient to meet the plain language requirement of multiple scholarly articles.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B2203; source_row=17732
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The plain language of 'contributions of major significance in the field' requires impact beyond one's employer and clients regardless of the field. Support letters praised the petitioner as a student or intern, not as a practitioner whose contributions influenced the broader field. One article cited by a single subsequent article and included in databases does not constitute a contribution of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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The plain language of 'contributions of major significance in the field' requires impact beyond one's employer and clients regardless of the field. Support letters praised the petitioner as a student or intern, not as a practitioner whose contributions influenced the broader field. One article cited by a single subsequent article and included in databases does not constitute a contribution of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B2203; source_row=17731
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner never claimed this criterion and no supporting documentary evidence exists in the record. The director referenced evidence from a different field not in the record. AAO withdraws the director's erroneous determination.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner never claimed this criterion and no supporting documentary evidence exists in the record. The director referenced evidence from a different field not in the record. AAO withdraws the director's erroneous determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B2203; source_row=17730
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

The evidence of record supports the director's conclusion that the petitioner meets this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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The evidence of record supports the director's conclusion that the petitioner meets this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B2203; source_row=17733
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

foreign degree equivalency to U.S. Master's degree

What the decision said

The AAO identified a question in the record regarding whether the beneficiary's foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. Master's degree in Computer Science or Engineering, but declined to resolve the issue and remanded it to the director.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO identified a question in the record regarding whether the beneficiary's foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. Master's degree in Computer Science or Engineering, but declined to resolve the issue and remanded it to the director.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B5203; source_row=17736
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

bona fide job offer / actual employer

What the decision said

The AAO found that the director did not sufficiently articulate the basis for the revocation finding and remanded for further review, declining to resolve the issue itself.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found that the director did not sufficiently articulate the basis for the revocation finding and remanded for further review, declining to resolve the issue itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-26_01_B5203; source_row=17735
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the beneficiary's three-year Indian bachelor's degree is equivalent to only three years of U.S. university study; the diploma-issuing institution is not a college or university; and combining credentials individually below the U.S. bachelor's degree level does not yield a 'foreign equivalent degree.' EDGE/AACRAO data confirmed the degree deficiencies and the private INS correspondence was not binding.

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 the beneficiary's three-year Indian bachelor's degree is equivalent to only three years of U.S. university study; the diploma-issuing institution is not a college or university; and combining credentials individually below the U.S. bachelor's degree level does not yield a 'foreign equivalent degree.' EDGE/AACRAO data confirmed the degree deficiencies and the private INS correspondence was not binding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-25_01_B5203; source_row=17714
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

at least three of six regulatory criteria for exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

Only two of six criteria are addressed by the petitioner's evidence (academic degrees under (A) and the prize under (F)).

Why this is useful

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

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Only two of six criteria are addressed by the petitioner's evidence (academic degrees under (A) and the prize under (F)).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-03-25_05_B5203; source_row=17725
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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