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 22811–22820

EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not establish the proper USD value of his Philippine Peso salary using a contemporaneous exchange rate. The salary comparison evidence was outdated (2007) and showed average CEO salary in the Philippines was actually higher than the petitioner's earnings. Even if the evidence showed above-average salary, that is insufficient to demonstrate a high salary under the regulation.

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The petitioner did not establish the proper USD value of his Philippine Peso salary using a contemporaneous exchange rate. The salary comparison evidence was outdated (2007) and showed average CEO salary in the Philippines was actually higher than the petitioner's earnings. Even if the evidence showed above-average salary, that is insufficient to demonstrate a high salary under the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_02_B2203; source_row=14854
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner failed to show that any of the five companies he presided over had a distinguished reputation, as conducting business successfully does not establish distinguished reputation. Additionally, the petitioner's role with the rotary club was insufficiently documented, and the criterion requires qualifying roles for organizations in the plural.

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The petitioner failed to show that any of the five companies he presided over had a distinguished reputation, as conducting business successfully does not establish distinguished reputation. Additionally, the petitioner's role with the rotary club was insufficiently documented, and the criterion requires qualifying roles for organizations in the plural.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_02_B2203; source_row=14853
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner failed to provide membership requirements or bylaws showing the organization requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts; the membership certificate was unsigned; being a board member of a rotary club does not equate to membership in an association; and the criterion requires membership in associations (plural), not just one.

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The petitioner failed to provide membership requirements or bylaws showing the organization requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts; the membership certificate was unsigned; being a board member of a rotary club does not equate to membership in an association; and the criterion requires membership in associations (plural), not just one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_02_B2203; source_row=14850
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Required judicial proceeding statement (8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(1)(iii))

Why AAO was not persuaded

Prior counsel failed to submit the required statement about whether the AAO decision was or had been the subject of judicial proceedings, a deficiency that had already been flagged in the prior AAO decision.

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Prior counsel failed to submit the required statement about whether the AAO decision was or had been the subject of judicial proceedings, a deficiency that had already been flagged in the prior AAO decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_03_B2203; source_row=14856
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

New facts requirement for motion to reopen (8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2))

Why AAO was not persuaded

The submitted evidence was not 'new': much of it post-dated the petition filing date and thus could not establish eligibility at time of filing, counsel's unsupported assertions carried no evidentiary weight, recommendation letters from U.S.-based individuals were not explained as previously unavailable, and counsel failed to explain why three newly claimed criteria were never raised before.

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The submitted evidence was not 'new': much of it post-dated the petition filing date and thus could not establish eligibility at time of filing, counsel's unsupported assertions carried no evidentiary weight, recommendation letters from U.S.-based individuals were not explained as previously unavailable, and counsel failed to explain why three newly claimed criteria were never raised before.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_03_B2203; source_row=14857
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO credited the letter confirming the petitioner served as one of four final judges in April 2010 and found this satisfied the judging criterion, even though it was raised for the first time on appeal.

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The AAO credited the letter confirming the petitioner served as one of four final judges in April 2010 and found this satisfied the judging criterion, even though it was raised for the first time on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_01_B2203; source_row=14844
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 reach final merits because the petitioner did not satisfy the threshold requirement of three qualifying criteria.

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AAO declined to reach final merits because the petitioner did not satisfy the threshold requirement of three qualifying criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_01_B2203; source_row=14847
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO concurred with the director's finding that the petitioner met the display criterion, noting that the director had in fact already found this criterion satisfied.

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The AAO concurred with the director's finding that the petitioner met the display criterion, noting that the director had in fact already found this criterion satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_01_B2203; source_row=14846
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

What the decision said

Although counsel initially asserted this criterion when filing the petition, counsel did not continue the assertion in response to the NOID or on appeal, so the AAO concluded the issue was abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

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Although counsel initially asserted this criterion when filing the petition, counsel did not continue the assertion in response to the NOID or on appeal, so the AAO concluded the issue was abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_02_B2203; source_row=14852
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

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 petitioner provided no objective and independent evidence about the Woman magazine's reputation, readership, or geographic reach. Even if qualifying, the criterion requires publications in the plural. Evidence of other articles was unavailable and the petitioner's CV was insufficient to establish their publication.

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The petitioner provided no objective and independent evidence about the Woman magazine's reputation, readership, or geographic reach. Even if qualifying, the criterion requires publications in the plural. Evidence of other articles was unavailable and the petitioner's CV was insufficient to establish their publication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_02_B2203; source_row=14851
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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