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 21241–21250

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 criterion requires display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases, which is limited to visual arts. The petitioner is a musician whose performances are audible and not a display in the sense of a painter or sculptor. Music performances are more relevant to the commercial successes criterion. This interpretation has been upheld by a federal district court.

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The criterion requires display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases, which is limited to visual arts. The petitioner is a musician whose performances are audible and not a display in the sense of a painter or sculptor. Music performances are more relevant to the commercial successes criterion. This interpretation has been upheld by a federal district court.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_01_B2203; source_row=16700
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 Billboard chart submissions largely relate to songs he did not write or contribute to. For albums he contributed to, he contributed to only one or two songs out of ten, and failed to show that sales were primarily attributable to his contributions rather than the main artist.…

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The petitioner's Billboard chart submissions largely relate to songs he did not write or contribute to. For albums he contributed to, he contributed to only one or two songs out of ten, and failed to show that sales were primarily attributable to his contributions rather than the main artist. The petitioner failed to submit documentary evidence of sales or receipts demonstrating his specific songs and performances were indicative of commercial success.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_01_B2203; source_row=16701
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-time achievement (major, internationally recognized award)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Nominations are not equivalent to receipt of a major internationally recognized award. Awards won by other artists cannot be attributed primarily to the petitioner who contributed to only two songs. Post-filing awards cannot be considered. Wikipedia and self-promotional materials from presenting organizations lack sufficient reliability.…

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Nominations are not equivalent to receipt of a major internationally recognized award. Awards won by other artists cannot be attributed primarily to the petitioner who contributed to only two songs. Post-filing awards cannot be considered. Wikipedia and self-promotional materials from presenting organizations lack sufficient reliability. No reliable objective evidence shows any award is commensurate with a major, internationally recognized award like the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Academy Award, or Olympic Medal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_01_B2203; source_row=16694
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 in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

Expert letters merely repeat statutory language without specific evidence of major significance. Articles focus on collaborators, not the petitioner. Post-filing awards cannot be considered. Billboard charts relate to songs the petitioner did not contribute to. Background music royalties and commercial successes of collaborators are not evidence 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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Expert letters merely repeat statutory language without specific evidence of major significance. Articles focus on collaborators, not the petitioner. Post-filing awards cannot be considered. Billboard charts relate to songs the petitioner did not contribute to. Background music royalties and commercial successes of collaborators are not evidence of major significance. Letters from collaborators do not establish impact beyond the petitioner's immediate circle.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_01_B2203; source_row=16699
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

Nominations are not receipt of prizes or awards. Awards credited to other performing artists cannot establish the petitioner's receipt of a nationally or internationally recognized prize. Post-filing awards cannot be considered.…

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Nominations are not receipt of prizes or awards. Awards credited to other performing artists cannot establish the petitioner's receipt of a nationally or internationally recognized prize. Post-filing awards cannot be considered. Self-promotional materials from presenting organizations are insufficient, and no objective evidence demonstrates the awards are nationally or internationally recognized beyond the presenting organizations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_01_B2203; source_row=16695
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Five years of qualifying experience in the job offered

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO withdrew the Director's finding on experience, concluding that despite different job titles, the similarity of duties and required special skills between the beneficiary's prior roles and the offered computer analyst position demonstrated more than five years of qualifying experience by the priority date.

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The AAO withdrew the Director's finding on experience, concluding that despite different job titles, the similarity of duties and required special skills between the beneficiary's prior roles and the offered computer analyst position demonstrated more than five years of qualifying experience by the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_07_B5203; source_row=16709
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Minimum education per labor certification (bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or business)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the beneficiary did not possess a foreign equivalent degree in engineering, computer science, or business from a college or university, and therefore did not satisfy the plain language of the labor certification's minimum educational requirement.

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The AAO agreed that the beneficiary did not possess a foreign equivalent degree in engineering, computer science, or business from a college or university, and therefore did not satisfy the plain language of the labor certification's minimum educational requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_07_B5203; source_row=16708
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay the proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the petitioner did not respond to AAO's RFE for ability-to-pay evidence, the petitioner failed to establish ability to pay the proffered wage.

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Because the petitioner did not respond to AAO's RFE for ability-to-pay evidence, the petitioner failed to establish ability to pay the proffered wage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_08_B5203; source_row=16710
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

successor-in-interest to labor certification employer

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that successor-in-interest status was not established because the petitioner and the labor-certification filer have different FEINs, indicating separate legal entities rather than a mere name change, and the asset transfer agreement was between two entities neither of which is shown to be the labor-certification filer.

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AAO agreed that successor-in-interest status was not established because the petitioner and the labor-certification filer have different FEINs, indicating separate legal entities rather than a mere name change, and the asset transfer agreement was between two entities neither of which is shown to be the labor-certification filer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_05_B5203; source_row=16706
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

Continuing ability to pay proffered wage as of priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO independently found that the petitioner failed to establish ability to pay the combined proffered wages for all pending I-140 beneficiaries. No documentation was provided as to priority dates, wages, or status of other petitions.

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The AAO independently found that the petitioner failed to establish ability to pay the combined proffered wages for all pending I-140 beneficiaries. No documentation was provided as to priority dates, wages, or status of other petitions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_10_B5203; source_row=16715
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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