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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 23381–23390

EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesFaculty

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards for excellence

What the decision said

The petitioner initially claimed this criterion but did not pursue it in the RFE response and did not raise it on appeal. The AAO concluded the issue was abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner initially claimed this criterion but did not pursue it in the RFE response and did not raise it on appeal. The AAO concluded the issue was abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_09_B2203; source_row=14188
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / StatisticsPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner documented authorship of scholarly articles in reputable scientific journals, 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.

View full reasoning +
The petitioner documented authorship of scholarly articles in reputable scientific journals, satisfying the plain language requirements of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_08_B2203; source_row=14185
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / StatisticsPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner peer-reviewed manuscripts for numerous reputable journals and served on doctoral committees, satisfying the plain language requirements of this criterion. The NSF Peer Review Panel service post-dated the filing date and was disregarded.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner peer-reviewed manuscripts for numerous reputable journals and served on doctoral committees, satisfying the plain language requirements of this criterion. The NSF Peer Review Panel service post-dated the filing date and was disregarded.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_08_B2203; source_row=14183
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

National in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner relied on general evidence of acupuncture's effectiveness but did not establish that the clinical practice of one acupuncturist has national scope. Evidence that acupuncture is used nationally does not show that a single practitioner's work reaches a national scale.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner relied on general evidence of acupuncture's effectiveness but did not establish that the clinical practice of one acupuncturist has national scope. Evidence that acupuncture is used nationally does not show that a single practitioner's work reaches a national scale.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_02_B5203; source_row=14174
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial intrinsic merit

What the decision said

The petitioner did not address the AAO's prior finding on intrinsic merit on motion, so the AAO considered this issue abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner did not address the AAO's prior finding on intrinsic merit on motion, so the AAO considered this issue abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_02_B5203; source_row=14173
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

Serves national interest to substantially greater degree than U.S. worker

What the decision said

The petitioner did not address the third prong on motion, so the AAO treated it as abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner did not address the third prong on motion, so the AAO treated it as abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_02_B5203; source_row=14175
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the national scope of the beneficiary's occupation established based on evidence in the record, withdrawing the director's contrary finding.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the national scope of the beneficiary's occupation established based on evidence in the record, withdrawing the director's contrary finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_01_B5203; source_row=14168
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that counsel's assertions, supported by evidence in the record, were persuasive that the beneficiary's occupation in nuclear engineering has substantial intrinsic merit, and withdrew the director's contrary finding.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that counsel's assertions, supported by evidence in the record, were persuasive that the beneficiary's occupation in nuclear engineering has substantial intrinsic merit, and withdrew the director's contrary finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_01_B5203; source_row=14167
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that witness letters gave context to the significance of the beneficiary's specific achievements — such as reducing fretting wear and improving heat transfer — distinguishing him from other qualified professionals by the scale and significance of his contributions.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that witness letters gave context to the significance of the beneficiary's specific achievements — such as reducing fretting wear and improving heat transfer — distinguishing him from other qualified professionals by the scale and significance of his contributions. Given the proprietary nature of the work, widespread citation was not expected, and the witness testimony credibly established the beneficiary's past achievements stand out in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_01_B5203; source_row=14169
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that the petitioner submitted sufficient documentary evidence demonstrating that he minimally meets the plain language of 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(ix).

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the petitioner submitted sufficient documentary evidence demonstrating that he minimally meets the plain language of 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(ix).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-19_03_B2203; source_row=14179
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment