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 23251–23260

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner submitted documentation demonstrating that he meets the plain language requirements of this criterion, and the AAO affirms the director's finding.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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The petitioner submitted documentation demonstrating that he meets the plain language requirements of this criterion, and the AAO affirms the director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-02_03_B2203; source_row=14348
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner documented authorship of scholarly articles in scientific journals and at international medical conferences, satisfying the plain language requirements of this criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The petitioner documented authorship of scholarly articles in scientific journals and at international medical conferences, satisfying the plain language requirements of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-02_03_B2203; source_row=14350
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

The director found the petitioner met the awards criterion and AAO did not disturb this finding.

Why this is useful

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

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The director found the petitioner met the awards criterion and AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-02_02_B2203; source_row=14337
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO reviewed the entire record and found the petitioner had demonstrated the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage beginning on the priority date.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reviewed the entire record and found the petitioner had demonstrated the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage beginning on the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-02_04_B5203; source_row=14362
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other24 papers

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the director's conclusion that the field has substantial intrinsic merit.

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 did not disturb the director's conclusion that the field has substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-02_01_B5203; source_row=14334
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other24 papers

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the witness letters undermined by demonstrable exaggerations (e.g., misrepresenting AACR associate membership as elite recognition), the citation evidence unremarkable and uncontextualized, and Sigma Xi membership too broad to indicate distinction. AAO concluded the record showed a gulf between witness claims and objective evidence.

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 the witness letters undermined by demonstrable exaggerations (e.g., misrepresenting AACR associate membership as elite recognition), the citation evidence unremarkable and uncontextualized, and Sigma Xi membership too broad to indicate distinction. AAO concluded the record showed a gulf between witness claims and objective evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-02_01_B5203; source_row=14336
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 in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the cited publications were not shown to be professional or major trade publications or major media; the Wall Street Journal article was not about the petitioner; the forthcoming book was not yet published at time of filing; and the French articles lacked proper certified translations and required metadata.

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 that the cited publications were not shown to be professional or major trade publications or major media; the Wall Street Journal article was not about the petitioner; the forthcoming book was not yet published at time of filing; and the French articles lacked proper certified translations and required metadata.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-01_03_B2203; source_row=14319
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 held that this criterion is limited to the visual arts and does not apply to performing artists, consistent with longstanding interpretation upheld by a federal district court. Since the petitioner is not a visual artist who created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions, he does not meet this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO held that this criterion is limited to the visual arts and does not apply to performing artists, consistent with longstanding interpretation upheld by a federal district court. Since the petitioner is not a visual artist who created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions, he does not meet this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-01_03_B2203; source_row=14321
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 in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found no documentary evidence from the USPTO corroborating a patent, noted that a patent alone does not demonstrate major significance, found no evidence anyone else in the field used or intended to use the trampoline system, and held that a single contribution cannot satisfy the plural 'contributions' requirement.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found no documentary evidence from the USPTO corroborating a patent, noted that a patent alone does not demonstrate major significance, found no evidence anyone else in the field used or intended to use the trampoline system, and held that a single contribution cannot satisfy the plural 'contributions' requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-01_03_B2203; source_row=14320
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 other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the wage comparison data covered all entertainers and performers generally rather than acrobatic performers specifically; the CareerInfoNet data was hourly but the petitioner only provided annual salary; the FLC data was geographically limited to Las Vegas; and merely exceeding the average wage is insufficient to show a high salary under the regulation.

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 that the wage comparison data covered all entertainers and performers generally rather than acrobatic performers specifically; the CareerInfoNet data was hourly but the petitioner only provided annual salary; the FLC data was geographically limited to Las Vegas; and merely exceeding the average wage is insufficient to show a high salary under the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-05-01_03_B2203; source_row=14323
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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