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 32213230

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

AAO agreed with the Director, adding that the Petitioner did not submit evidence to show national or international recognition of prizes or awards offered at the relevant festival or other exhibitions, and that unsubstantiated appellate assertions carry no evidentiary weight.

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AAO agreed with the Director, adding that the Petitioner did not submit evidence to show national or international recognition of prizes or awards offered at the relevant festival or other exhibitions, and that unsubstantiated appellate assertions carry no evidentiary weight.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_02_B2203; source_row=40135
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the book does not satisfy the criterion, noting its inconsistent tone and reading level, its promotional passages, its lack of traditional publication, and the absence of download, circulation, or readership statistics to show it constitutes major media.

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AAO agreed that the book does not satisfy the criterion, noting its inconsistent tone and reading level, its promotional passages, its lack of traditional publication, and the absence of download, circulation, or readership statistics to show it constitutes major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_02_B2203; source_row=40137
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found this claim was raised for the first time on appeal and thus does not identify any erroneous conclusion in the Director's decision; moreover, comparing Uzbekistan earnings to U.S. salary surveys does not show high remuneration relative to other jewelers in the applicable work location.

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AAO found this claim was raised for the first time on appeal and thus does not identify any erroneous conclusion in the Director's decision; moreover, comparing Uzbekistan earnings to U.S. salary surveys does not show high remuneration relative to other jewelers in the applicable work location.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_02_B2203; source_row=40139
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that discrepancies and omissions — including conflicting dates of membership, an un-translated by-laws document of unverified origin, and letterhead inconsistencies — prevented the Petitioner from establishing that Hunarmand requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.

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AAO agreed that discrepancies and omissions — including conflicting dates of membership, an un-translated by-laws document of unverified origin, and letterhead inconsistencies — prevented the Petitioner from establishing that Hunarmand requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_02_B2203; source_row=40134
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 the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that participation certificates do not describe the nature of participation and are therefore insufficient evidence of display; further, evidence raised for the first time on appeal was not accepted because the Petitioner had been put on notice of the deficiency by the RFE and failed to respond to it.

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AAO found that participation certificates do not describe the nature of participation and are therefore insufficient evidence of display; further, evidence raised for the first time on appeal was not accepted because the Petitioner had been put on notice of the deficiency by the RFE and failed to respond to it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_02_B2203; source_row=40138
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

AAO agreed that the Petitioner had not shown the published materials appeared in professional or major trade publications or other major media, noting that appellate claims about the paper's circulation were unsupported assertions without evidentiary weight.

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AAO agreed that the Petitioner had not shown the published materials appeared in professional or major trade publications or other major media, noting that appellate claims about the paper's circulation were unsupported assertions without evidentiary weight.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_02_B2203; source_row=40136
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO had previously concluded the record did not demonstrate broader implications of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor at a level of national importance, and that the plan to employ 73 workers did not establish significant potential for substantial positive economic effects. On motion, no new arguments or evidence changed this conclusion.

Why this is useful

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AAO had previously concluded the record did not demonstrate broader implications of the Petitioner's proposed endeavor at a level of national importance, and that the plan to employ 73 workers did not establish significant potential for substantial positive economic effects. On motion, no new arguments or evidence changed this conclusion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_03_B5203; source_row=40148
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the evidence addressed the nursing field and home health care broadly rather than demonstrating national implications of the Petitioner's specific endeavor. The business plan's financial projections were unsupported by committed investment funds or contractual commitments, making it insufficient to show significant potential for job creation or substantial positive economic effects.

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AAO agreed that the evidence addressed the nursing field and home health care broadly rather than demonstrating national implications of the Petitioner's specific endeavor. The business plan's financial projections were unsupported by committed investment funds or contractual commitments, making it insufficient to show significant potential for job creation or substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_05_B5203; source_row=40154
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO declined to reach the second prong because the failure on the first prong was dispositive.

Why this is useful

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AAO declined to reach the second prong because the failure on the first prong was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_07_B5203; source_row=40161
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States

What the decision said

Because the first prong was dispositive, AAO expressly reserved the third prong and declined to reach it.

Why this is useful

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Because the first prong was dispositive, AAO expressly reserved the third prong and declined to reach it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-08-21_04_B5203; source_row=40153
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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