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 22721–22730

EB-1AComparable evidenceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

Comparable evidence

comparable evidence under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(4)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found comparable evidence unavailable because the petitioner did not show that the standard criteria are not readily applicable to a sports journalist and producer; counsel addressed all ten criteria in the brief.

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The AAO found comparable evidence unavailable because the petitioner did not show that the standard criteria are not readily applicable to a sports journalist and producer; counsel addressed all ten criteria in the brief.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_01_B2203; source_row=14968
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacked bylaws or official documentation of the associations' membership criteria, and the petitioner did not show that nationally or internationally recognized experts judge admission.

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The record lacked bylaws or official documentation of the associations' membership criteria, and the petitioner did not show that nationally or internationally recognized experts judge admission.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_01_B2203; source_row=14959
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 petitioner's sports articles were not peer-reviewed and contained no citing references, so they did not meet the plain language requirement for scholarly articles.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner's sports articles were not peer-reviewed and contained no citing references, so they did not meet the plain language requirement for scholarly articles.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_01_B2203; source_row=14963
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 submitted letters lacked descriptions of the petitioner's place in organizational hierarchy or how his role was critical, one was unsigned, and there was no evidence the organizations had a distinguished reputation.

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The submitted letters lacked descriptions of the petitioner's place in organizational hierarchy or how his role was critical, one was unsigned, and there was no evidence the organizations had a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_01_B2203; source_row=14965
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted conflicting letters about who received the awards and no primary evidence of receipt. He also failed to address the nationally/internationally recognized requirement on appeal.

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The petitioner submitted conflicting letters about who received the awards and no primary evidence of receipt. He also failed to address the nationally/internationally recognized requirement on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_01_B2203; source_row=14958
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO implicitly affirmed the director's finding that the petitioner works in an area of substantial intrinsic merit, as this prong was not disputed.

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AAO implicitly affirmed the director's finding that the petitioner works in an area of substantial intrinsic merit, as this prong was not disputed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_02_B5203; source_row=14971
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves national interest to substantially greater degree than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO relocated the key concern about actual impact from the second prong to the third, and found that the petitioner had not shown his methods were actually being used outside his employer; witnesses used speculative language ('should,' 'will,' 'would significantly contribute'), which was insufficient to establish present eligibility.

Why this is useful

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AAO relocated the key concern about actual impact from the second prong to the third, and found that the petitioner had not shown his methods were actually being used outside his employer; witnesses used speculative language ('should,' 'will,' 'would significantly contribute'), which was insufficient to establish present eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_02_B5203; source_row=14973
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO disagreed with the director, finding that the petitioner's innovations are not intrinsically limited to any locality and can be applied throughout the field, and that conference participation disseminates his work nationally.

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AAO disagreed with the director, finding that the petitioner's innovations are not intrinsically limited to any locality and can be applied throughout the field, and that conference participation disseminates his work nationally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_02_B5203; source_row=14972
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary holds master's degree or foreign equivalent as required by labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Relying on AACRAO EDGE, the AAO found that the beneficiary's Indian three-year bachelor's plus two-year Master in Computer Management is comparable to only a U.S. bachelor's degree. Private evaluators' contrary conclusions were discounted as uncorroborated and in direct conflict with EDGE.…

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Relying on AACRAO EDGE, the AAO found that the beneficiary's Indian three-year bachelor's plus two-year Master in Computer Management is comparable to only a U.S. bachelor's degree. Private evaluators' contrary conclusions were discounted as uncorroborated and in direct conflict with EDGE. The alternate-experience argument failed because the labor certification expressly excluded any alternate combination of education and experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_01_B5203; source_row=14970
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not contest the director's findings or address the conclusion that the material was not about him; the AAO considered the issue abandoned.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner did not contest the director's findings or address the conclusion that the material was not about him; the AAO considered the issue abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-19_01_B2203; source_row=14960
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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