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 23571–23580

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 AAO withdrew the director's finding. The petitioner failed to provide evidence that any claimed organization had a distinguished reputation, failed to corroborate assertions with documentary evidence from the organizations themselves, and a single performance does not constitute a leading or critical role.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's finding. The petitioner failed to provide evidence that any claimed organization had a distinguished reputation, failed to corroborate assertions with documentary evidence from the organizations themselves, and a single performance does not constitute a leading or critical role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_04_B2203; source_row=13953
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

In the aggregate, the petitioner's evidence—a single membership with undocumented requirements, published material in publications lacking the requisite caliber, judging duties that fail to set her apart, contributions without demonstrated field impact, and roles that were neither leading nor critical—does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or rise to the level of the small percentage at the very to…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
In the aggregate, the petitioner's evidence—a single membership with undocumented requirements, published material in publications lacking the requisite caliber, judging duties that fail to set her apart, contributions without demonstrated field impact, and roles that were neither leading nor critical—does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or rise to the level of the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_04_B2203; source_row=13955
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO withdrew the director's finding. Articles about the petitioner's troupe were not 'about' her; only one translation identified the author; that article lacked a publication date; and the petitioner failed to establish the circulation or national reach of the newspapers as major media.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's finding. Articles about the petitioner's troupe were not 'about' her; only one translation identified the author; that article lacked a publication date; and the petitioner failed to establish the circulation or national reach of the newspapers as major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_04_B2203; source_row=13949
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted evidence of membership in a single association but failed to provide the membership requirements or evidence that admittance is judged by nationally or internationally recognized experts. The regulation also requires associations in the plural, and the petitioner only claimed one.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner submitted evidence of membership in a single association but failed to provide the membership requirements or evidence that admittance is judged by nationally or internationally recognized experts. The regulation also requires associations in the plural, and the petitioner only claimed one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_04_B2203; source_row=13948
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 withdrew the director's finding because criterion (vii) is limited to visual artists. The petitioner is a performing artist who has not created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases, and therefore does not qualify.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's finding because criterion (vii) is limited to visual artists. The petitioner is a performing artist who has not created tangible pieces of art displayed at exhibitions or showcases, and therefore does not qualify.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_04_B2203; source_row=13952
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that student and youth awards could not establish top-of-field status, association memberships lacked evidence of outstanding achievement requirements, scholarly article citations were only moderate and publications had ceased by 2005, and the salary evidence was deficient.…

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 student and youth awards could not establish top-of-field status, association memberships lacked evidence of outstanding achievement requirements, scholarly article citations were only moderate and publications had ceased by 2005, and the salary evidence was deficient. In aggregate, the evidence failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the beneficiary is among the small percentage at the very top of pediatric neurology.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_05_B2203; source_row=13960
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO withdrew the director's finding because there were no payroll records or tax forms showing actual earnings, only an offer letter. Additionally, the petitioner provided no basis for comparison showing the salary was high relative to other pediatric neurologists.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's finding because there were no payroll records or tax forms showing actual earnings, only an offer letter. Additionally, the petitioner provided no basis for comparison showing the salary was high relative to other pediatric neurologists.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_05_B2203; source_row=13959
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

There was no primary documentary evidence of membership in the cited associations beyond the third-party letter, and no documentation of the membership requirements (bylaws or rules of admission) showing that outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts are required.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
There was no primary documentary evidence of membership in the cited associations beyond the third-party letter, and no documentation of the membership requirements (bylaws or rules of admission) showing that outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts are required.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_05_B2203; source_row=13957
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

EconomicsPhD15 papers

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

The witness letters contained bare assertions without corroborative documentary evidence, similar or identical wording across letters undermined their credibility, citation counts were low (only 10 total, several self-citations, none post-2006), download statistics placed the petitioner's work among the least influential in the sample, the EPA/FAPRI connection reflected standard advisory relationships rather than unusual pe…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The witness letters contained bare assertions without corroborative documentary evidence, similar or identical wording across letters undermined their credibility, citation counts were low (only 10 total, several self-citations, none post-2006), download statistics placed the petitioner's work among the least influential in the sample, the EPA/FAPRI connection reflected standard advisory relationships rather than unusual personal influence, the ICCT publication post-dated the filing date, the approved labor certification negated claims about the labor certification process being inefficient, and the petitioner's departure from ISU further undermined employment-based claims.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_02_B5203; source_row=13946
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 concurred with the director's determination that the petitioner met the plain language requirements of this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO concurred with the director's determination that the petitioner met the plain language requirements of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-03-12_04_B2203; source_row=13950
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment