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 5541–5550

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim as a coach

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's past athletic acclaim does not translate into coaching acclaim: letters crediting him with influencing athletes early in their careers lacked continuity showing he coached them to later successes; job offers and consulting arrangements reflected confidence based on his athletic reputation, not recognition as a coach; and the volleyball academy he founded caters to youth and was publicized in…

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AAO found that the Petitioner's past athletic acclaim does not translate into coaching acclaim: letters crediting him with influencing athletes early in their careers lacked continuity showing he coached them to later successes; job offers and consulting arrangements reflected confidence based on his athletic reputation, not recognition as a coach; and the volleyball academy he founded caters to youth and was publicized in terms of his past athletic career rather than coaching achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=36449
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

The Director found this criterion met based on the Petitioner's receipt of nationally and internationally recognized prizes for his athletic performance; AAO did not disturb this finding.

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The Director found this criterion met based on the Petitioner's receipt of nationally and internationally recognized prizes for his athletic performance; AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=36443
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found this criterion met based on published material about the Petitioner and his work as an athlete; AAO did not disturb this finding.

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The Director found this criterion met based on published material about the Petitioner and his work as an athlete; AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=36445
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found this criterion met based on the Petitioner's membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement; AAO did not disturb this finding.

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The Director found this criterion met based on the Petitioner's membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement; AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=36444
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 distinguished organizations

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found this criterion met based on evidence that the Petitioner had performed in a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation; AAO did not disturb this finding.

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The Director found this criterion met based on evidence that the Petitioner had performed in a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation; AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=36447
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences16 papers600 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concludes the Petitioner demonstrated original contributions of major significance, citing nearly 600 citations since 2017, 12 of 16 articles in the top 10% cited in microbiology for their year, and detailed letters from seven experts (six independent) describing three specific contributions: oral microbiome biosynthetic gene clusters relevant to dental disease; a mass spectrometry interface used by other researchers; a…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concludes the Petitioner demonstrated original contributions of major significance, citing nearly 600 citations since 2017, 12 of 16 articles in the top 10% cited in microbiology for their year, and detailed letters from seven experts (six independent) describing three specific contributions: oral microbiome biosynthetic gene clusters relevant to dental disease; a mass spectrometry interface used by other researchers; and discovery of new surfactins from plant microbiomes with antifungal properties.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_02_B2203; source_row=36455
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences16 papers600 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepts the Director's finding that the Petitioner authored scholarly articles in the microbiology field.

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AAO accepts the Director's finding that the Petitioner authored scholarly articles in the microbiology field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_02_B2203; source_row=36454
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences16 papers600 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepts the Director's finding that the Petitioner participated as a judge of others' work in the microbiology field.

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AAO accepts the Director's finding that the Petitioner participated as a judge of others' work in the microbiology field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-19_02_B2203; source_row=36453
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the director's rationale (which incorrectly focused on the petitioner's unrelated education) but agreed with the ultimate conclusion that the proposed endeavor lacked national importance.…

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AAO disagreed with the director's rationale (which incorrectly focused on the petitioner's unrelated education) but agreed with the ultimate conclusion that the proposed endeavor lacked national importance. AAO found that the petitioner's evidence—letters of recommendation, expert opinions, and professional plan—focused on the petitioner's personal abilities and past performance rather than demonstrating prospective national or global impact, broader implications, or positive economic effects of the endeavor itself. On substantial merit, however, AAO found in the petitioner's favor, concluding that the entrepreneurial software development endeavor fell within the meritorious range of areas contemplated by Dhanasar.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-18_03_B5203; source_row=36431
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner made a wholesale change to the proposed endeavor between the initial filing and the RFE response, making it impossible to evaluate substantial merit or national importance under Dhanasar. Discrepancies between the resume (present-tense activities since 2020) and the claim that the endeavor is future and inoperative further undermined the reliability of the expert opinion and business plan.

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AAO found the Petitioner made a wholesale change to the proposed endeavor between the initial filing and the RFE response, making it impossible to evaluate substantial merit or national importance under Dhanasar. Discrepancies between the resume (present-tense activities since 2020) and the claim that the endeavor is future and inoperative further undermined the reliability of the expert opinion and business plan.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-03-18_04_B5203; source_row=36434
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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