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 22271–22280

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO repeatedly found the petitioner failed to show his work was in widespread use or had sufficient national impact at the time of the 2009 filing. New evidence on motion was either post-filing activity or previously available material that did not address the core deficiency.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO repeatedly found the petitioner failed to show his work was in widespread use or had sufficient national impact at the time of the 2009 filing. New evidence on motion was either post-filing activity or previously available material that did not address the core deficiency.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-21_03_B5203; source_row=15550
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Environment / Energy

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO reversed the director's finding and found the petitioner satisfied the first prong in prior proceedings. Not re-litigated in this motion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reversed the director's finding and found the petitioner satisfied the first prong in prior proceedings. Not re-litigated in this motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-21_03_B5203; source_row=15548
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO indicated that working with a national-level clientele can by itself address the national scope aspect of NYSDOT, implicitly accepting that this prong was satisfied, while emphasizing that the third prong was where the petitioner fell short.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO indicated that working with a national-level clientele can by itself address the national scope aspect of NYSDOT, implicitly accepting that this prong was satisfied, while emphasizing that the third prong was where the petitioner fell short.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-20_01_B5203; source_row=15520
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the witness letters and self-serving statements lacked corroborative documentary evidence to show the petitioner's contributions substantially exceed what would be expected of any qualified employee, and that she failed to demonstrate impact or influence beyond client-specific, proprietary work.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO found that the witness letters and self-serving statements lacked corroborative documentary evidence to show the petitioner's contributions substantially exceed what would be expected of any qualified employee, and that she failed to demonstrate impact or influence beyond client-specific, proprietary work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-20_01_B5203; source_row=15521
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the previously claimed memberships abandoned on appeal for lack of specific argument. The newly claimed APU membership was rejected because the bylaws were submitted for the first time on appeal after the director had already requested membership evidence, the translation was not certified, and in any event one association is insufficient as the regulation requires plural memberships.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found the previously claimed memberships abandoned on appeal for lack of specific argument. The newly claimed APU membership was rejected because the bylaws were submitted for the first time on appeal after the director had already requested membership evidence, the translation was not certified, and in any event one association is insufficient as the regulation requires plural memberships.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-19_02_B2203; source_row=15493
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner failed to submit bank statements corroborating receipt of payments under the agreements; purported bank transaction evidence did not conform to payment terms and improperly included internal savings-to-checking transfers; the salary comparison data was not appropriately comparable to others in the petitioner's specific field.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner failed to submit bank statements corroborating receipt of payments under the agreements; purported bank transaction evidence did not conform to payment terms and improperly included internal savings-to-checking transfers; the salary comparison data was not appropriately comparable to others in the petitioner's specific field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-19_02_B2203; source_row=15496
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

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 the evidence did not show the specific artistic aspects of the petitioner's original work as a producer on display, the IMDB did not list her as a producer, and raising funds does not satisfy this criterion. Moreover, this criterion is limited to visual artists.

Why this is useful

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 evidence did not show the specific artistic aspects of the petitioner's original work as a producer on display, the IMDB did not list her as a producer, and raising funds does not satisfy this criterion. Moreover, this criterion is limited to visual artists.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-19_02_B2203; source_row=15494
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 or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO withdrew the director's finding because a motion picture film does not constitute an 'organization' or 'establishment,' the IMDB did not list the petitioner as a producer, there was no evidence her role was leading or critical relative to fifteen other credited producers, and the regulation requires plural organizations or establishments.

Why this is useful

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 a motion picture film does not constitute an 'organization' or 'establishment,' the IMDB did not list the petitioner as a producer, there was no evidence her role was leading or critical relative to fifteen other credited producers, and the regulation requires plural organizations or establishments.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-19_02_B2203; source_row=15495
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 failed to resolve inconsistencies in the record regarding the project agreements and did not submit documentary evidence of sales, box office receipts, or equivalent quantitative measures of commercial success attributable to her specific work.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner failed to resolve inconsistencies in the record regarding the project agreements and did not submit documentary evidence of sales, box office receipts, or equivalent quantitative measures of commercial success attributable to her specific work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-19_02_B2203; source_row=15497
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The travel awards were limited to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, not experienced scientists. No documentary evidence showed the awards were nationally or internationally recognized. The AHA fellowship post-dated the filing and reflected only regional (Midwestern) recognition; moreover, it was a research grant funding future work rather than an honor for past excellence.

Why this is useful

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

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The travel awards were limited to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, not experienced scientists. No documentary evidence showed the awards were nationally or internationally recognized. The AHA fellowship post-dated the filing and reflected only regional (Midwestern) recognition; moreover, it was a research grant funding future work rather than an honor for past excellence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-19_01_B2203; source_row=15485
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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