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 20751–20760

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Fraud or misrepresentation in the record

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the omission of previously-fraudulent experience cannot itself constitute new fraud, that statements about business affiliations were immaterial, and that the second Form G-325A discrepancy was explained. The prior misrepresentation cast doubt on evidence generally but was insufficient to support a standalone fraud finding in this matter.

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

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AAO found that the omission of previously-fraudulent experience cannot itself constitute new fraud, that statements about business affiliations were immaterial, and that the second Form G-325A discrepancy was explained. The prior misrepresentation cast doubt on evidence generally but was insufficient to support a standalone fraud finding in this matter.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-26_03_B5203; source_row=17282
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

one-time achievement (major internationally recognized award)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found insufficient evidence that the gold medal at this competition (with representatives from only five nations) is internationally recognized as a major award in the field. Corroborating expert letters used nearly identical language and lacked probative value.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found insufficient evidence that the gold medal at this competition (with representatives from only five nations) is internationally recognized as a major award in the field. Corroborating expert letters used nearly identical language and lacked probative value.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_01_B2203; source_row=17259
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

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

AAO withdrew the director's favorable finding because the submitted translations did not comply with the certification requirements under 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3), stripping the evidence of probative value.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the director's favorable finding because the submitted translations did not comply with the certification requirements under 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3), stripping the evidence of probative value. Even if translations had been compliant, the petitioner failed to identify the specific qualifying publication and did not establish that the identified outlets constitute professional, major trade, or major media publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B2203; source_row=17270
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the director's conclusion that a founding CEO role is not leading or critical, holding that such a role is by its nature leading or critical within an organization's structure.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO withdrew the director's conclusion that a founding CEO role is not leading or critical, holding that such a role is by its nature leading or critical within an organization's structure. Nonetheless, the criterion is still not met because: translation deficiencies leave no probative evidence of distinguished reputation; and the regulation requires qualifying roles for 'organizations or establishments' in the plural, while the petitioner only demonstrated a role for a single organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B2203; source_row=17273
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Translation deficiencies stripped the published material and letters of support of probative value. The petitioner submitted no documentation showing how his e-commerce business in China was original. Furthermore, even if the company were considered an original contribution, it is a single contribution and the regulation requires 'contributions' in the plural.

Why this is useful

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

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Translation deficiencies stripped the published material and letters of support of probative value. The petitioner submitted no documentation showing how his e-commerce business in China was original. Furthermore, even if the company were considered an original contribution, it is a single contribution and the regulation requires 'contributions' in the plural.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B2203; source_row=17271
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner offered only a passing reference to previously submitted evidence without substantive argument on appeal. More fundamentally, the evidence does not establish that the awards or prizes themselves are nationally or internationally recognized as 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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The petitioner offered only a passing reference to previously submitted evidence without substantive argument on appeal. More fundamentally, the evidence does not establish that the awards or prizes themselves are nationally or internationally recognized as awards for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B2203; source_row=17268
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agrees the petitioner has not shown a past history of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole. NCLBA does not create an implied blanket waiver, and counsel's claims about the petitioner's effectiveness in raising student achievement were unsupported by evidence.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agrees the petitioner has not shown a past history of demonstrable achievement with influence on the field as a whole. NCLBA does not create an implied blanket waiver, and counsel's claims about the petitioner's effectiveness in raising student achievement were unsupported by evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B5203; source_row=17278
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the letters either lacked descriptions of the petitioner's role and impact or contained duplicative language with diminished evidentiary weight, and the petitioner did not satisfy the plural-organizations requirement.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded the letters either lacked descriptions of the petitioner's role and impact or contained duplicative language with diminished evidentiary weight, and the petitioner did not satisfy the plural-organizations requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_01_B2203; source_row=17264
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Had the petitioner submitted translations complying with 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3), the record would support the director's determination. Because the translations are non-compliant, the evidence lacks probative value and this criterion cannot be satisfied.

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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Had the petitioner submitted translations complying with 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3), the record would support the director's determination. Because the translations are non-compliant, the evidence lacks probative value and this criterion cannot be satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B2203; source_row=17272
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's impact was confined to her school and local area. The NCLBA does not amend the INA or establish a lower national-scope standard for teachers, and counsel's arguments about federal education priorities do not transform one teacher's local impact into a nationally significant contribution.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the petitioner's impact was confined to her school and local area. The NCLBA does not amend the INA or establish a lower national-scope standard for teachers, and counsel's arguments about federal education priorities do not transform one teacher's local impact into a nationally significant contribution.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_01_B5203; source_row=17266
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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