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 21511–21520

EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the director's finding on criterion (vii), holding that it is limited to the visual arts and does not apply to performance artists such as musicians. Accepting performances as satisfying this criterion would collapse it into criterion (viii) and render the three-criteria requirement meaningless.

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AAO withdrew the director's finding on criterion (vii), holding that it is limited to the visual arts and does not apply to performance artists such as musicians. Accepting performances as satisfying this criterion would collapse it into criterion (viii) and render the three-criteria requirement meaningless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-20_01_B2203; source_row=16418
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial successes in performing arts

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner satisfied criterion (x) for commercial successes in the performing arts, a finding the director had not made.

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AAO found the petitioner satisfied criterion (x) for commercial successes in the performing arts, a finding the director had not made.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-20_01_B2203; source_row=16419
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the totality of evidence sufficient to establish sustained national or international acclaim and that the petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field.

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AAO found the totality of evidence sufficient to establish sustained national or international acclaim and that the petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-20_01_B2203; source_row=16420
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with the director that the petitioner satisfied the published material criterion.

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AAO concurred with the director that the petitioner satisfied the published material criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-20_01_B2203; source_row=16416
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with the director that the petitioner satisfied the judging criterion.

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AAO concurred with the director that the petitioner satisfied the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-20_01_B2203; source_row=16417
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

foreign equivalent of U.S. master's degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO consulted EDGE (AACRAO's database), which found the combined three-year bachelor's and two-year master's from India to be equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a master's degree. The credential evaluations submitted by the petitioner that found master's-degree equivalence all relied on combining education with work experience rather than education alone, which is impermissible under the regulatory framework.…

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AAO consulted EDGE (AACRAO's database), which found the combined three-year bachelor's and two-year master's from India to be equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a master's degree. The credential evaluations submitted by the petitioner that found master's-degree equivalence all relied on combining education with work experience rather than education alone, which is impermissible under the regulatory framework. A three-year bachelor's degree is not a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate, and combining lesser degrees or work experience cannot substitute for a full baccalaureate-equivalent degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_02_B5203; source_row=16401
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

All awards (items 1–8) were received by the petitioner's company or its products, not the petitioner himself. Additionally, the petitioner failed to show the awards were nationally or internationally recognized beyond the presenting organizations.

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All awards (items 1–8) were received by the petitioner's company or its products, not the petitioner himself. Additionally, the petitioner failed to show the awards were nationally or internationally recognized beyond the presenting organizations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B2203; source_row=16403
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

The AAO withdrew the director's finding. Although the petitioner showed a leading or critical role for his own company (which has a distinguished reputation), the regulation requires such a role for distinguished 'organizations or establishments' in the plural. The petitioner also failed to show distinguished reputations for the other associations or that his role was leading or critical to them.

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The AAO withdrew the director's finding. Although the petitioner showed a leading or critical role for his own company (which has a distinguished reputation), the regulation requires such a role for distinguished 'organizations or establishments' in the plural. The petitioner also failed to show distinguished reputations for the other associations or that his role was leading or critical to them.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B2203; source_row=16409
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim at top of field

Why AAO was not persuaded

Counsel challenged the director's final merits determination, but the AAO upheld it, finding the evidence of record fails to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim at the very top of the field.

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Counsel challenged the director's final merits determination, but the AAO upheld it, finding the evidence of record fails to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B2203; source_row=16411
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

The AAO withdrew the director's finding that the petitioner meets this criterion. Key submitted articles were not about the petitioner, lacked required author/date information, relied on self-promotional evidence, or failed to establish that the publications qualify as major trade publications or major media.

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The AAO withdrew the director's finding that the petitioner meets this criterion. Key submitted articles were not about the petitioner, lacked required author/date information, relied on self-promotional evidence, or failed to establish that the publications qualify as major trade publications or major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B2203; source_row=16405
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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