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 22061–22070

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the director that advanced neurosurgery techniques have substantial intrinsic merit; this prong was not in dispute.

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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO agreed with the director that advanced neurosurgery techniques have substantial intrinsic merit; this prong was not in dispute.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-01_09_B5203; source_row=15785
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Timely and voluntary recantation as defense

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not acknowledge or attempt to rebut the AAO's notice of derogatory information, but simply withdrew the appeal. Without an admission and correction, there can be no recantation. Even if the petitioner had retracted, it would not have been voluntary as it would have followed imminent exposure of the falsity.

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The petitioner did not acknowledge or attempt to rebut the AAO's notice of derogatory information, but simply withdrew the appeal. Without an admission and correction, there can be no recantation. Even if the petitioner had retracted, it would not have been voluntary as it would have followed imminent exposure of the falsity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-01_01_B2203; source_row=15778
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Materiality of misrepresentation

Why the evidence was persuasive

The false award claims related directly to the regulatory criterion at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(i) and were thus material to the petitioner's eligibility, as the misrepresentation cut off a line of inquiry relevant to eligibility that might well have resulted in denial.

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The false award claims related directly to the regulatory criterion at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(i) and were thus material to the petitioner's eligibility, as the misrepresentation cut off a line of inquiry relevant to eligibility that might well have resulted in denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-01_01_B2203; source_row=15777
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

False representation to a government official

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner submitted a materially altered award certificate for one competition (with the winner's name and year changed from the actual third-place winner) and a certificate for a festival whose official website shows first held in 2010, not 2001 as claimed. These submissions on the Form I-140 constitute a false representation to a government official.

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

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The petitioner submitted a materially altered award certificate for one competition (with the winner's name and year changed from the actual third-place winner) and a certificate for a festival whose official website shows first held in 2010, not 2001 as claimed. These submissions on the Form I-140 constitute a false representation to a government official.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-01_01_B2203; source_row=15775
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Willfulness of misrepresentation

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner signed the Form I-140 under penalty of perjury certifying all evidence was true and correct. AAO found this signature established that the misrepresentation was knowing and intentional rather than accidental.

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The petitioner signed the Form I-140 under penalty of perjury certifying all evidence was true and correct. AAO found this signature established that the misrepresentation was knowing and intentional rather than accidental.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-01_01_B2203; source_row=15776
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

The director had found this criterion met, but the AAO withdrew that finding. The petitioner submitted only a single article in a conference compilation whose status as a professional or major trade publication was not established, and the regulation's plural 'scholarly articles' requires more than one article.

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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 director had found this criterion met, but the AAO withdrew that finding. The petitioner submitted only a single article in a conference compilation whose status as a professional or major trade publication was not established, and the regulation's plural 'scholarly articles' requires more than one article.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=15759
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 director found this criterion met based on the petitioner's roles with Balkan Jamboree and the Balkanicus concerts, but the AAO withdrew that finding. The petitioner failed to show that either constituted an 'organization' or 'establishment,' failed to show a distinguished reputation for either, and in any case the regulation requires a leading or critical role for organizations in the plural.

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The director found this criterion met based on the petitioner's roles with Balkan Jamboree and the Balkanicus concerts, but the AAO withdrew that finding. The petitioner failed to show that either constituted an 'organization' or 'establishment,' failed to show a distinguished reputation for either, and in any case the regulation requires a leading or critical role for organizations in the plural.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=15761
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The totality of evidence — peer letters, limited judging of local age-restricted competitions, regional media coverage, a single scholarly article, and involvement in local/regional Balkan music promotion — was insufficient to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of the field.

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The totality of evidence — peer letters, limited judging of local age-restricted competitions, regional media coverage, a single scholarly article, and involvement in local/regional Balkan music promotion — was insufficient to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-31_01_B2203; source_row=15762
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences20 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's dissertation work, publications, conference presentations, involvement with research projects, and copyright were insufficient to demonstrate contributions of major significance in the field as a whole. Reference letters were vague, some appeared to share copied language including a typographical error, and corroborating objective evidence was lacking.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner's dissertation work, publications, conference presentations, involvement with research projects, and copyright were insufficient to demonstrate contributions of major significance in the field as a whole. Reference letters were vague, some appeared to share copied language including a typographical error, and corroborating objective evidence was lacking.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-31_02_B2203; source_row=15768
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences20 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

Translations submitted on appeal were not accepted because the petitioner failed to provide them in response to the director's RFE. Even if considered, the published materials were not about the petitioner relating to her work, and the petitioner failed to establish that the publications constituted professional or major trade publications or major media.…

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Translations submitted on appeal were not accepted because the petitioner failed to provide them in response to the director's RFE. Even if considered, the published materials were not about the petitioner relating to her work, and the petitioner failed to establish that the publications constituted professional or major trade publications or major media. Broadcast letters lacked primary evidence and reflected self-promotional claims.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-31_02_B2203; source_row=15766
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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