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 28812890

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO found the Director failed to apply any of the Dhanasar-enumerated factors for the second prong, conflated the analysis with national importance, and made a factually incorrect statement about the Petitioner not having a job offer. AAO remanded for a proper analysis.

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AAO found the Director failed to apply any of the Dhanasar-enumerated factors for the second prong, conflated the analysis with national importance, and made a factually incorrect statement about the Petitioner not having a job offer. AAO remanded for a proper analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_01_B5203; source_row=40684
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated 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 the evidence was persuasive

AAO finds the Petitioner performed leading or critical roles at K- (as Early-Stage Fund Managing Partner co-managing 1.5 billion yuan RMB funds and $170 million USD funds) and at N- (which she founded and where she holds a 99% ownership share as the highest decision-maker). The record shows both firms enjoy distinguished reputations, including industry awards in her home country.

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AAO finds the Petitioner performed leading or critical roles at K- (as Early-Stage Fund Managing Partner co-managing 1.5 billion yuan RMB funds and $170 million USD funds) and at N- (which she founded and where she holds a 99% ownership share as the highest decision-maker). The record shows both firms enjoy distinguished reputations, including industry awards in her home country.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_03_B2203; source_row=40700
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion on appeal, so the issue is considered waived.

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The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion on appeal, so the issue is considered waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_01_B2203; source_row=40676
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner met this criterion based on evidence of his leadership role within the Brazilian Automotive Press Association.

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AAO agreed with the Director's determination that the Petitioner met this criterion based on evidence of his leadership role within the Brazilian Automotive Press Association.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_01_B2203; source_row=40680
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

What the decision said

AAO declined to address this criterion because the Petitioner failed to meet three criteria regardless, making additional analysis unnecessary to the outcome.

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AAO declined to address this criterion because the Petitioner failed to meet three criteria regardless, making additional analysis unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_01_B2203; source_row=40682
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination – sustained national or international acclaim

What the decision said

AAO declined to make the final merits determination in the first instance, remanding to the Director with instructions to consider all potentially relevant evidence of record.

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AAO declined to make the final merits determination in the first instance, remanding to the Director with instructions to consider all potentially relevant evidence of record.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=40694
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the record supports the Petitioner having met the display-of-work criterion.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the record supports the Petitioner having met the display-of-work criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=40688
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as judge of others' work

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that while the certificate alone did not establish participation, the review notes — which included the Petitioner's comments after the competition's first day — sufficiently demonstrated her actual participation as a judge.

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AAO found that while the certificate alone did not establish participation, the review notes — which included the Petitioner's comments after the competition's first day — sufficiently demonstrated her actual participation as a judge.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=40687
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 found that while the awards from the 2012 arts festival and 2022-23 and 2019 competitions lacked sufficient evidence of national/international recognition, the 2011 government-sponsored competition was demonstrated to be nationally recognized through online articles describing it as 'the national highest dance competition' with participation from all 31 Chinese provinces and authoritative expert testimony.…

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AAO found that while the awards from the 2012 arts festival and 2022-23 and 2019 competitions lacked sufficient evidence of national/international recognition, the 2011 government-sponsored competition was demonstrated to be nationally recognized through online articles describing it as 'the national highest dance competition' with participation from all 31 Chinese provinces and authoritative expert testimony. One nationally recognized award is sufficient to meet this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-13_02_B2203; source_row=40686
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's co-authored book does not qualify as a scholarly article because it is a long-form written composition rather than an article, was not written for learned persons in the field (as evidenced by its introductory-level framing for aspiring product managers), and was not shown to be published in a professional or major trade publication or other major media.

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The Petitioner's co-authored book does not qualify as a scholarly article because it is a long-form written composition rather than an article, was not written for learned persons in the field (as evidenced by its introductory-level framing for aspiring product managers), and was not shown to be published in a professional or major trade publication or other major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-09-12_02_B2203; source_row=40661
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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