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 21891–21900

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a final merits determination because the petitioner failed to meet the threshold requirement of qualifying evidence under at least three evidentiary criteria.

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AAO declined to conduct a final merits determination because the petitioner failed to meet the threshold requirement of qualifying evidence under at least three evidentiary criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-04_01_B2203; source_row=15987
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial successes in the performing arts

What the decision said

The petitioner did not contest the director's finding for this criterion on appeal and offered no additional arguments, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned. Additionally, the criterion applies to the performing arts, not the software publishing industry.

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The petitioner did not contest the director's finding for this criterion on appeal and offered no additional arguments, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned. Additionally, the criterion applies to the performing arts, not the software publishing industry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-04_01_B2203; source_row=15986
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary qualifications as of priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

After reviewing all evidence including submissions on appeal and in response to an AAO-issued RFE, the AAO concluded it was more likely than not that the beneficiary held a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in chemistry and at least five years of progressive work experience, meeting the labor certification requirements as of the priority date.

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After reviewing all evidence including submissions on appeal and in response to an AAO-issued RFE, the AAO concluded it was more likely than not that the beneficiary held a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in chemistry and at least five years of progressive work experience, meeting the labor certification requirements as of the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-01_01_B5203; source_row=15981
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

exceptional ability - regulatory criteria and final merits

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner met at least three of the six regulatory criteria and that the totality of the evidence demonstrated a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered.

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AAO found the petitioner met at least three of the six regulatory criteria and that the totality of the evidence demonstrated a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-01_02_B5203; source_row=15982
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

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 because the television segments lacked required written documentation, many articles lacked identified authors, book reviews are about the alien's work rather than about the alien, and none of the publications were established as professional, major trade, or major media through objective independent evidence.

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The AAO withdrew the director's finding because the television segments lacked required written documentation, many articles lacked identified authors, book reviews are about the alien's work rather than about the alien, and none of the publications were established as professional, major trade, or major media through objective independent evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-28_01_B2203; source_row=15967
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the reference letters contained vague, conclusory praise without specific examples of how the petitioner's work influenced or impacted the literary or television field at large, and the record lacked documentary evidence (e.g., citation impact, sales figures, independent critical recognition) demonstrating major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found that the reference letters contained vague, conclusory praise without specific examples of how the petitioner's work influenced or impacted the literary or television field at large, and the record lacked documentary evidence (e.g., citation impact, sales figures, independent critical recognition) demonstrating major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-28_01_B2203; source_row=15969
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that novels do not equate to scholarly articles, that editorial assistance is not authorship, and that the petitioner failed to demonstrate that his contributions to the dramatic monologue volumes constituted authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications.

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See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The AAO found that novels do not equate to scholarly articles, that editorial assistance is not authorship, and that the petitioner failed to demonstrate that his contributions to the dramatic monologue volumes constituted authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-28_01_B2203; source_row=15970
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO withdrew the director's finding because the petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of the award, the media coverage was limited and did not demonstrate national or international recognition, the award was voted on by only 499 online voters, and only a single award was presented (the plural 'prizes or awards' requires more than one).

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

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The AAO withdrew the director's finding because the petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of the award, the media coverage was limited and did not demonstrate national or international recognition, the award was voted on by only 499 online voters, and only a single award was presented (the plural 'prizes or awards' requires more than one).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-28_01_B2203; source_row=15966
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the qualifying evidence under the judging criterion reflects limited participation inconsistent with someone at the very top of the field, and that the reference letters' praise, while noting accomplished referees, underscored how far the petitioner remains from the very top.

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The AAO found that the qualifying evidence under the judging criterion reflects limited participation inconsistent with someone at the very top of the field, and that the reference letters' praise, while noting accomplished referees, underscored how far the petitioner remains from the very top.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-28_01_B2203; source_row=15971
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

single foreign equivalent degree to U.S. baccalaureate

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that a three-year foreign bachelor's degree is not a foreign equivalent degree, and that combining multiple lesser credentials does not satisfy 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2). Neither evaluation concluded the beneficiary's bachelor's alone equates to a U.S. bachelor's.

Why this is useful

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The AAO agreed that a three-year foreign bachelor's degree is not a foreign equivalent degree, and that combining multiple lesser credentials does not satisfy 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2). Neither evaluation concluded the beneficiary's bachelor's alone equates to a U.S. bachelor's.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-28_04_B5203; source_row=15979
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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