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 25512560

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

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found the judging criterion satisfied; AAO did not revisit this finding on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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Both the Director and AAO found the judging criterion satisfied; AAO did not revisit this finding on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_04_B2203; source_row=41235
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO found the scholarly articles criterion satisfied; AAO did not revisit this finding on appeal.

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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Both the Director and AAO found the scholarly articles criterion satisfied; AAO did not revisit this finding on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_04_B2203; source_row=41236
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO held the Director erroneously disregarded competitive athletic awards and that the 2017 bronze medal in the adult blackbelt category satisfied the plain language of (h)(3)(i) given media descriptions of the championship.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO held the Director erroneously disregarded competitive athletic awards and that the 2017 bronze medal in the adult blackbelt category satisfied the plain language of (h)(3)(i) given media descriptions of the championship.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_02_B2203; source_row=41217
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

What the decision said

AAO noted the Director failed to address the additional evidence and claims submitted in the RFE response regarding an international award, and remanded for proper evaluation.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO noted the Director failed to address the additional evidence and claims submitted in the RFE response regarding an international award, and remanded for proper evaluation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_05_B2203; source_row=41239
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO found the Director failed to address the additional claims and evidence submitted in the RFE response and remanded for full evaluation of whether the contributions rise to the level 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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AAO found the Director failed to address the additional claims and evidence submitted in the RFE response and remanded for full evaluation of whether the contributions rise to the level of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_05_B2203; source_row=41242
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

What the decision said

AAO disagreed with the Petitioner's argument that the magazine could impute El Nacional's reputation but found the Director may not have considered all relevant evidence of the magazine's own reputation and the Petitioner's role, including RFE response evidence that it was Venezuela's first publication licensed for use in at least 10 other countries.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO disagreed with the Petitioner's argument that the magazine could impute El Nacional's reputation but found the Director may not have considered all relevant evidence of the magazine's own reputation and the Petitioner's role, including RFE response evidence that it was Venezuela's first publication licensed for use in at least 10 other countries.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_05_B2203; source_row=41244
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration for services

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner established high salary or significantly high remuneration satisfying criterion (ix), disagreeing with the Director's implied finding.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the Petitioner established high salary or significantly high remuneration satisfying criterion (ix), disagreeing with the Director's implied finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_03_B2203; source_row=41231
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the materials did not substantially discuss the Petitioner and his work, and that the comparable evidence argument was not established because the Petitioner failed to show the criterion does not readily apply to his occupation. The regulation contemplates professional and trade publications tailored to specialized readerships.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the materials did not substantially discuss the Petitioner and his work, and that the comparable evidence argument was not established because the Petitioner failed to show the criterion does not readily apply to his occupation. The regulation contemplates professional and trade publications tailored to specialized readerships.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_03_B2203; source_row=41228
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner established a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner established a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_03_B2203; source_row=41230
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO found the Director erred by evaluating the Petitioner's business contributions through the lens of scientific contributions, and remanded for reconsideration applying the correct framework for business contributions.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Director erred by evaluating the Petitioner's business contributions through the lens of scientific contributions, and remanded for reconsideration applying the correct framework for business contributions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-10-04_03_B2203; source_row=41229
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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