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 21021–21030

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences81 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO treated this claim as abandoned because the appellate brief was virtually identical to the RFE response and did not identify any error of law or fact. Regardless, the record lacked evidence of a leading or critical role, and the criterion requires evidence of roles for multiple organizations (plural), not just one.

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The AAO treated this claim as abandoned because the appellate brief was virtually identical to the RFE response and did not identify any error of law or fact. Regardless, the record lacked evidence of a leading or critical role, and the criterion requires evidence of roles for multiple organizations (plural), not just one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_01_B2203; source_row=16969
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

None of the media reports are about the petitioner and his work in the field — most cover events in which he participated. The Chinese-language newspaper did not qualify as major media for independent reasons; the local New Jersey outlet's viewership was not established; and a newspaper article was about his high school, not him.…

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None of the media reports are about the petitioner and his work in the field — most cover events in which he participated. The Chinese-language newspaper did not qualify as major media for independent reasons; the local New Jersey outlet's viewership was not established; and a newspaper article was about his high school, not him. Additionally, the material concerns his achievements as a competitor, not as a consultant or coach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_02_B2203; source_row=16974
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the letter and other evidence established the petitioner served as a referee, the evidence did not enumerate his duties sufficiently to show he was judging the work of others (e.g., awarding points or choosing the winner) rather than merely enforcing rules. Additionally, several items showed only invitations to serve, not actual participation.

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

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While the letter and other evidence established the petitioner served as a referee, the evidence did not enumerate his duties sufficiently to show he was judging the work of others (e.g., awarding points or choosing the winner) rather than merely enforcing rules. Additionally, several items showed only invitations to serve, not actual participation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_02_B2203; source_row=16975
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

Counsel claimed original contributions in the initial filing but petitioner failed to respond to the director's RFE on this point and did not raise the claim again, so it was deemed abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

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Counsel claimed original contributions in the initial filing but petitioner failed to respond to the director's RFE on this point and did not raise the claim again, so it was deemed abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_02_B2203; source_row=16976
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 distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

Initial counsel asserted petitioner played a leading role for his team in national competitions but did not specifically address this criterion. On appeal, petitioner did not contest the director's finding or offer additional arguments, so the claim was deemed abandoned.

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Initial counsel asserted petitioner played a leading role for his team in national competitions but did not specifically address this criterion. On appeal, petitioner did not contest the director's finding or offer additional arguments, so the claim was deemed abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_02_B2203; source_row=16977
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

The media coverage submitted (from a Chinese-language newspaper) relied on self-promotional publisher material, Wikipedia, and inadequately translated documents, and thus did not establish the national or international recognition of the awards. Additionally, the awards were for achievements as a competitor rather than as a consultant or coach.

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The media coverage submitted (from a Chinese-language newspaper) relied on self-promotional publisher material, Wikipedia, and inadequately translated documents, and thus did not establish the national or international recognition of the awards. Additionally, the awards were for achievements as a competitor rather than as a consultant or coach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_02_B2203; source_row=16972
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences81 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO considered this claim abandoned because counsel failed to address this criterion on appeal, instead addressing only the significance of contributions. As with the membership criterion, the new evidence was not accepted because the petitioner failed to respond to the director's RFE.

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The AAO considered this claim abandoned because counsel failed to address this criterion on appeal, instead addressing only the significance of contributions. As with the membership criterion, the new evidence was not accepted because the petitioner failed to respond to the director's RFE.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_01_B2203; source_row=16965
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

other

60 months of experience in the offered job of architect as of priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's experience with the petitioner could not count (only 12 months and self-contradicted by J.21 answer); project manager experience at two companies totaled only ~28 months and was insufficiently described; prior Mexico-based company experience was not listed on the ETA Form 9089 at Part K and thus could not be credited; experience before receiving the architecture degree in 2003 could not qualify.…

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The beneficiary's experience with the petitioner could not count (only 12 months and self-contradicted by J.21 answer); project manager experience at two companies totaled only ~28 months and was insufficiently described; prior Mexico-based company experience was not listed on the ETA Form 9089 at Part K and thus could not be credited; experience before receiving the architecture degree in 2003 could not qualify. None of the additional evidence submitted in response to the NOID/RFE cured these deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_01_B5203; source_row=16971
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

What the decision said

The petitioner never asserted this criterion before the director — prior counsel presented the membership only as evidence of intent to continue working in the field. Because petitioners must raise criteria before the director and may not raise new eligibility claims for the first time on appeal, AAO declined to consider this criterion.

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The petitioner never asserted this criterion before the director — prior counsel presented the membership only as evidence of intent to continue working in the field. Because petitioners must raise criteria before the director and may not raise new eligibility claims for the first time on appeal, AAO declined to consider this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-11_02_B2203; source_row=16973
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Bona fide job offer as architect

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner branched out into the coffee business in 2009, opened six coffee shops in three years, and its primary or exclusive line of business appears to be coffee shops. Site visits confirmed the Pasadena architectural address was occupied by another company. None of the submitted architectural proposals were signed and there was no evidence the petitioner derived income or work from them.

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The petitioner branched out into the coffee business in 2009, opened six coffee shops in three years, and its primary or exclusive line of business appears to be coffee shops. Site visits confirmed the Pasadena architectural address was occupied by another company. None of the submitted architectural proposals were signed and there was no evidence the petitioner derived income or work from them.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-09-10_02_B5203; source_row=16962
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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