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 23841–23850

EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences8 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that criterion vii is limited to visual artists and does not apply to the petitioner, whose field is educating and social activism rather than the arts. The petitioner is not a visual artist and therefore is not eligible to meet the plain language of this criterion.

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AAO found that criterion vii is limited to visual artists and does not apply to the petitioner, whose field is educating and social activism rather than the arts. The petitioner is not a visual artist and therefore is not eligible to meet the plain language of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-11_02_B2203; source_row=13652
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not contest the director's findings on this criterion during the prior certification proceeding, so the AAO treated it as abandoned. The resubmitted evidence is also not 'new' under 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2).

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner did not contest the director's findings on this criterion during the prior certification proceeding, so the AAO treated it as abandoned. The resubmitted evidence is also not 'new' under 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-11_03_B2203; source_row=13657
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The new embassy letter lacked corroborating documentary evidence and the petitioner failed to show it was previously unavailable. The petitioner had at least four prior opportunities to submit such evidence. No evidence submitted qualifies as 'new' under 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2).

Why this is useful

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

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The new embassy letter lacked corroborating documentary evidence and the petitioner failed to show it was previously unavailable. The petitioner had at least four prior opportunities to submit such evidence. No evidence submitted qualifies as 'new' under 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-11_03_B2203; source_row=13655
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial successes in the performing arts

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not contest the director's findings on this criterion during the prior certification, so the AAO treated it as abandoned. Even if the appreciation letters were considered, they would not qualify as new evidence unavailable at the time of prior proceedings.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner did not contest the director's findings on this criterion during the prior certification, so the AAO treated it as abandoned. Even if the appreciation letters were considered, they would not qualify as new evidence unavailable at the time of prior proceedings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-11_03_B2203; source_row=13659
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 resubmitted articles were not new evidence but corrections to previously deficient materials. The petitioner failed to show the evidence was previously unavailable; a motion to reopen cannot be used to improve upon previously deficient evidence.

Why this is useful

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

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The resubmitted articles were not new evidence but corrections to previously deficient materials. The petitioner failed to show the evidence was previously unavailable; a motion to reopen cannot be used to improve upon previously deficient evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-11_03_B2203; source_row=13656
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary's degree matches field of study required by labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification required a master's in Business Administration and disallowed alternate fields; the beneficiary's MS in Mechanical Engineering does not satisfy that requirement under the plain language of the ETA Form 9089.

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The labor certification required a master's in Business Administration and disallowed alternate fields; the beneficiary's MS in Mechanical Engineering does not satisfy that requirement under the plain language of the ETA Form 9089.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-11_01_B5203; source_row=13647
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 in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Articles either were about soccer games rather than the petitioner himself, only mentioned him in passing, lacked required author identification, or were not accompanied by circulation evidence showing the publications qualify as major media.

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Articles either were about soccer games rather than the petitioner himself, only mentioned him in passing, lacked required author identification, or were not accompanied by circulation evidence showing the publications qualify as major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_01_B2203; source_row=13615
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted only third-party recommendation letters rather than primary documentary evidence from organizers or newspapers. Even if the awards existed, there was no evidence they were nationally or internationally recognized beyond the presenting organizations.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner submitted only third-party recommendation letters rather than primary documentary evidence from organizers or newspapers. Even if the awards existed, there was no evidence they were nationally or internationally recognized beyond the presenting organizations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_01_B2203; source_row=13614
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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 organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

Letters indicated a leading role but lacked official competitive results such as comprehensive team rankings distinguishing his teams from other successful soccer teams. Conclusory assertions without supporting documentary evidence were insufficient.

Why this is useful

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Letters indicated a leading role but lacked official competitive results such as comprehensive team rankings distinguishing his teams from other successful soccer teams. Conclusory assertions without supporting documentary evidence were insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_01_B2203; source_row=13617
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original athletic contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

Recommendation letters established the petitioner was a talented player but did not demonstrate original contributions of major significance. The record did not show his influence on other players or that the field changed as a result of his work.

Why this is useful

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

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Recommendation letters established the petitioner was a talented player but did not demonstrate original contributions of major significance. The record did not show his influence on other players or that the field changed as a result of his work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-01-10_01_B2203; source_row=13616
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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