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 23471–23480

EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

The articles were primarily about others (a Filipino award nominee and a performing arts academy), not the petitioner. The news segment did not even mention the petitioner by name. The photographs lacked the required title, date, and author. The two articles about the petitioner were filed after the petition date and could not be used.…

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

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The articles were primarily about others (a Filipino award nominee and a performing arts academy), not the petitioner. The news segment did not even mention the petitioner by name. The photographs lacked the required title, date, and author. The two articles about the petitioner were filed after the petition date and could not be used. Even if one item qualified, the criterion requires evidence in 'professional or major trade publications or other major media' in the plural.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_02_B2203; source_row=14046
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

Wikipedia evidence was unreliable. Magazine publications were considered under the separate published material criterion and do not presumptively satisfy this criterion. Reference letters showed impact on individual projects or departments, not on the field as a whole. The letters lacked specificity and were not corroborated. Merely applying make-up to celebrities does not constitute a contribution of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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Wikipedia evidence was unreliable. Magazine publications were considered under the separate published material criterion and do not presumptively satisfy this criterion. Reference letters showed impact on individual projects or departments, not on the field as a whole. The letters lacked specificity and were not corroborated. Merely applying make-up to celebrities does not constitute a contribution of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_02_B2203; source_row=14048
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The evidence showed only that the petitioner was asked and agreed to judge, not that she actually participated as a judge. The plain language requires evidence of actual participation.

Why this is useful

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

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The evidence showed only that the petitioner was asked and agreed to judge, not that she actually participated as a judge. The plain language requires evidence of actual participation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_04_B2203; source_row=14061
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

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

None of the ten submitted items fully satisfied the criterion. Most lacked the required title, date, and/or author; were not about the petitioner relating to her work; or failed to establish that the publication qualified as a professional or major trade publication or other major media.

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

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None of the ten submitted items fully satisfied the criterion. Most lacked the required title, date, and/or author; were not about the petitioner relating to her work; or failed to establish that the publication qualified as a professional or major trade publication or other major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_04_B2203; source_row=14060
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

Only one award was shown to be nationally recognized, but the regulation requires more than one qualifying prize or award (plural). The other award lacked documentary evidence of national or international recognition.

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Only one award was shown to be nationally recognized, but the regulation requires more than one qualifying prize or award (plural). The other award lacked documentary evidence of national or international recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_04_B2203; source_row=14059
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

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 petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of her salary, and the supporting letter did not qualify as an affidavit. Furthermore, the comparative salary data was drawn from general chief executives rather than chief executives in the tourism or car rental field, so the petitioner failed to show a high salary in relation to others in her specific field.

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The petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of her salary, and the supporting letter did not qualify as an affidavit. Furthermore, the comparative salary data was drawn from general chief executives rather than chief executives in the tourism or car rental field, so the petitioner failed to show a high salary in relation to others in her specific field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_04_B2203; source_row=14063
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

foreign equivalent degree to U.S. baccalaureate

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that a three-year foreign bachelor's degree does not constitute a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate under Matter of Shah. The combination of the three-year degree and a polytechnic diploma does not equal a single foreign equivalent degree.…

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

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AAO found that a three-year foreign bachelor's degree does not constitute a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate under Matter of Shah. The combination of the three-year degree and a polytechnic diploma does not equal a single foreign equivalent degree. The credential evaluations were given less weight because they were inconsistent with EDGE database information showing that a diploma in engineering is comparable to only up to one year of U.S. university study and that three-year B.S. programs in India are equivalent to only two to three years of U.S. study.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_05_B5203; source_row=14072
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed with EDGE's assessment that the Diplome d'Ingenieur is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The Master degree equivalency in EDGE refers to the university-based L-M-D degree structure, not to the Grande Ecole credential. The U.S. five-year BS/MS programs integrate two separate degrees while the Diplome d'Ingenieur is a single degree.…

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

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The AAO agreed with EDGE's assessment that the Diplome d'Ingenieur is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The Master degree equivalency in EDGE refers to the university-based L-M-D degree structure, not to the Grande Ecole credential. The U.S. five-year BS/MS programs integrate two separate degrees while the Diplome d'Ingenieur is a single degree. The submitted credential evaluations were discounted because they equated a first-degree professional credential in France to a second-degree credential in the U.S. without adequate explanation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_07_B5203; source_row=14074
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

Only one pre-denial letter evidenced any membership, failing the regulatory requirement for plural 'professional associations.' Moreover, the petitioner did not show that the organization in question qualifies as a 'professional association' because the beneficiary's occupation is not listed in INA § 101(a)(32) and no bachelor's degree requirement was shown. New membership letters submitted on appeal were untimely.

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

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Only one pre-denial letter evidenced any membership, failing the regulatory requirement for plural 'professional associations.' Moreover, the petitioner did not show that the organization in question qualifies as a 'professional association' because the beneficiary's occupation is not listed in INA § 101(a)(32) and no bachelor's degree requirement was shown. New membership letters submitted on appeal were untimely.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_02_B5203; source_row=14054
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The new salary evidence was submitted for the first time on appeal after the director's RFE specifically requested compensation evidence. The 2009 tax return showed no salaries paid. The CPA letter's assertion of current compensation does not establish compensation at the time of filing, and the claimed amount does not demonstrate exceptional ability in any event.…

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The new salary evidence was submitted for the first time on appeal after the director's RFE specifically requested compensation evidence. The 2009 tax return showed no salaries paid. The CPA letter's assertion of current compensation does not establish compensation at the time of filing, and the claimed amount does not demonstrate exceptional ability in any event. Evidence withheld until appeal cannot cure the failure to respond to the RFE.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-30_02_B5203; source_row=14053
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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