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.
Chemistry / Chemical EngineeringResearch Scientist
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Artistic display
display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO withdrew the director's finding because this criterion is limited to the visual arts and the petitioner, as a scientist presenting at scientific conferences, does not qualify. Conference presentations are not artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's finding because this criterion is limited to the visual arts and the petitioner, as a scientist presenting at scientific conferences, does not qualify. Conference presentations are not artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-19_01_B2203; source_row=16613 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Chemistry / Chemical EngineeringResearch Scientist
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
published material about the alien
Why AAO was not persuaded
The petitioner submitted citation articles, but articles that cite to the petitioner's work are primarily about the authors' own research, not about the petitioner himself, and thus do not satisfy the plain language of the regulation.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The petitioner submitted citation articles, but articles that cite to the petitioner's work are primarily about the authors' own research, not about the petitioner himself, and thus do not satisfy the plain language of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-19_01_B2203; source_row=16610 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Chemistry / Chemical EngineeringResearch Scientist
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Final merits
final merits determination
Why AAO was not persuaded
The totality of evidence, including publications, citations, reference letters, and other documentation, does not demonstrate that the petitioner enjoys sustained national or international acclaim or has risen to the very top of the field of medicinal chemistry research.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The totality of evidence, including publications, citations, reference letters, and other documentation, does not demonstrate that the petitioner enjoys sustained national or international acclaim or has risen to the very top of the field of medicinal chemistry research.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-19_01_B2203; source_row=16616 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Chemistry / Chemical EngineeringResearch Scientist
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO withdrew the director's finding, concluding that the reference letters largely offered conclusory or speculative statements about future impact, that citations to the petitioner's articles were minimal to moderate (none exceeding 17 independent cites), and that there was no documentary evidence showing the petitioner's work had already resulted in successful treatments or was otherwise of major significance at the t…
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's finding, concluding that the reference letters largely offered conclusory or speculative statements about future impact, that citations to the petitioner's articles were minimal to moderate (none exceeding 17 independent cites), and that there was no documentary evidence showing the petitioner's work had already resulted in successful treatments or was otherwise of major significance at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-19_01_B2203; source_row=16611 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Chemistry / Chemical EngineeringResearch Scientist
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
Why AAO was not persuaded
The petitioner's salary evidence showed earnings well below the top-ten-percent threshold cited by BLS, and his salary comparisons were drawn from a limited sample of local H-1B positions rather than the field as a whole.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The petitioner's salary evidence showed earnings well below the top-ten-percent threshold cited by BLS, and his salary comparisons were drawn from a limited sample of local H-1B positions rather than the field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-19_01_B2203; source_row=16615 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
U.S. baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree from a college or university (plus 5 years progressive experience)
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO concludes the three-year B.Com is not a foreign equivalent degree, and the Associate Membership is not a degree from a college or university. Even the petitioner's own evaluators conceded the issuing body is not a college or university in the traditional sense.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO concludes the three-year B.Com is not a foreign equivalent degree, and the Associate Membership is not a degree from a college or university. Even the petitioner's own evaluators conceded the issuing body is not a college or university in the traditional sense.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-18_02_B5203; source_row=16604 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Chemistry / Chemical Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
serves national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the key NYSDOT provision requires a record of influence on the field as a whole, which does not require comparing credentials but rather demonstrating field-wide impact. The petitioner's evidence did not document the extent to which she raised student achievement or show that her work had influence beyond the school districts where she worked.…
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
View full reasoning +
AAO found that the key NYSDOT provision requires a record of influence on the field as a whole, which does not require comparing credentials but rather demonstrating field-wide impact. The petitioner's evidence did not document the extent to which she raised student achievement or show that her work had influence beyond the school districts where she worked. Additionally, conflicting information in the record cast doubt on her claims.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-18_03_B5203; source_row=16607 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Chemistry / Chemical Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial intrinsic merit
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO implicitly accepted that science education has substantial intrinsic merit, noting that the submitted materials 'establish the intrinsic merit of science education,' but found this alone insufficient for the waiver.
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
View full reasoning +
AAO implicitly accepted that science education has substantial intrinsic merit, noting that the submitted materials 'establish the intrinsic merit of science education,' but found this alone insufficient for the waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-18_03_B5203; source_row=16605 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Chemistry / Chemical Engineering
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
national in scope
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the national importance of education as a concept or educators as a class does not establish that one teacher's work produces benefits national in scope. A local-scale contribution to an overall national effort does not meet the NYSDOT threshold, and the aggregate national effect from thousands of teachers does not give national scope to the work of each individual teacher.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
View full reasoning +
AAO found that the national importance of education as a concept or educators as a class does not establish that one teacher's work produces benefits national in scope. A local-scale contribution to an overall national effort does not meet the NYSDOT threshold, and the aggregate national effect from thousands of teachers does not give national scope to the work of each individual teacher.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-18_03_B5203; source_row=16606 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c