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 22531–22540

NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary qualifications as of priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

After de novo review of the full record including new evidence, AAO concluded the petitioner established it was more likely than not that the beneficiary had all required education, training, and experience as of the priority date.

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After de novo review of the full record including new evidence, AAO concluded the petitioner established it was more likely than not that the beneficiary had all required education, training, and experience as of the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-20_02_B5203; source_row=15211
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the beneficiary's role with the petitioner minimally met the criterion, the regulation requires a leading or critical role in more than one organization or establishment (using the plural 'organizations or establishments'). The petitioner limited its claim on appeal solely to the role with the petitioner, abandoning the earlier claim based on Floriana, and thus failed to show the requisite plurality.

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While the beneficiary's role with the petitioner minimally met the criterion, the regulation requires a leading or critical role in more than one organization or establishment (using the plural 'organizations or establishments'). The petitioner limited its claim on appeal solely to the role with the petitioner, abandoning the earlier claim based on Floriana, and thus failed to show the requisite plurality.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_02_B2203; source_row=15195
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

Awards received by the restaurants where the beneficiary was employed do not constitute the beneficiary's personal receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards. The beneficiary was one member of a large group that earned collective recognition. WSET certificates were not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized.

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Awards received by the restaurants where the beneficiary was employed do not constitute the beneficiary's personal receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards. The beneficiary was one member of a large group that earned collective recognition. WSET certificates were not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_02_B2203; source_row=15192
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Recommendation letters contained general, vague assertions without specific evidence of how the beneficiary's contributions impacted the field at a significant level. The letters focused on personal accomplishments for the petitioner rather than field-wide impact, and some relied on speculation about future contributions. Bare assertions repeating regulatory language are insufficient.

Why this is useful

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

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Recommendation letters contained general, vague assertions without specific evidence of how the beneficiary's contributions impacted the field at a significant level. The letters focused on personal accomplishments for the petitioner rather than field-wide impact, and some relied on speculation about future contributions. Bare assertions repeating regulatory language are insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_02_B2203; source_row=15194
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

The published material must be primarily about the alien. Articles about restaurants that merely mention the beneficiary in passing, or do not mention him at all, do not meet this criterion. Many submissions also lacked required title/date/author information, and the petitioner failed to establish that most publications are professional, major trade, or other major media.

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The published material must be primarily about the alien. Articles about restaurants that merely mention the beneficiary in passing, or do not mention him at all, do not meet this criterion. Many submissions also lacked required title/date/author information, and the petitioner failed to establish that most publications are professional, major trade, or other major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_02_B2203; source_row=15193
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the citation record was moderate and not reflective of major significance, conference presentations did not establish broader field impact, the patent did not demonstrate major significance, and recommendation letters were vague, solicited, and relied primarily on future potential rather than present impact.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the citation record was moderate and not reflective of major significance, conference presentations did not establish broader field impact, the patent did not demonstrate major significance, and recommendation letters were vague, solicited, and relied primarily on future potential rather than present impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_03_B2203; source_row=15198
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that recommendation letters failed to demonstrate a leading or critical role — they were vague, lacked specific information about the nature of the petitioner's roles, and petitioner failed to submit documentary evidence showing the organizations had a distinguished reputation or that his role was leading or critical compared to other researchers.

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AAO found that recommendation letters failed to demonstrate a leading or critical role — they were vague, lacked specific information about the nature of the petitioner's roles, and petitioner failed to submit documentary evidence showing the organizations had a distinguished reputation or that his role was leading or critical compared to other researchers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_03_B2203; source_row=15200
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The motor rally was political, not in the petitioner's field of film directing/writing; the KOFFLA invitation alone showed no contribution; the future film project cannot establish present eligibility; and the recommendation letters were vague and did not specifically demonstrate major significance.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The motor rally was political, not in the petitioner's field of film directing/writing; the KOFFLA invitation alone showed no contribution; the future film project cannot establish present eligibility; and the recommendation letters were vague and did not specifically demonstrate major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_01_B2203; source_row=15183
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

There was no documentary evidence the petitioner filmed the event or that his role related to film directing/writing; no evidence Wooinbang Communications had a distinguished reputation; and the regulation's plural "organizations or establishments" requires more than one, while petitioner relied on only one.

Why this is useful

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

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There was no documentary evidence the petitioner filmed the event or that his role related to film directing/writing; no evidence Wooinbang Communications had a distinguished reputation; and the regulation's plural "organizations or establishments" requires more than one, while petitioner relied on only one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_01_B2203; source_row=15184
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

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

Why this is useful

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The AAO explicitly declined to conduct a final merits determination because the petitioner failed to meet the threshold requirement of evidence under at least three criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-15_02_B2203; source_row=15196
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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