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 5811–5820

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found, and AAO agreed, that the Petitioner met this criterion through her participation as a judge of others' work in the field.

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The Director found, and AAO agreed, that the Petitioner met this criterion through her participation as a judge of others' work in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_02_B2203; source_row=36016
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Petitioner has an extensive medal record and competed in the Olympics, the media coverage was minimal (one article from 2018), the judging activities lacked evidence of prestige, and the record did not establish her claimed coaching experience or future plans with sufficient evidence. On balance, she did not demonstrate she is among the small percentage at the very top of her field.

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AAO found that while the Petitioner has an extensive medal record and competed in the Olympics, the media coverage was minimal (one article from 2018), the judging activities lacked evidence of prestige, and the record did not establish her claimed coaching experience or future plans with sufficient evidence. On balance, she did not demonstrate she is among the small percentage at the very top of her field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_02_B2203; source_row=36017
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 achievements

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director found, and AAO agreed, that the Petitioner met this criterion by demonstrating membership in an association requiring outstanding achievements.

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The Director found, and AAO agreed, that the Petitioner met this criterion by demonstrating membership in an association requiring outstanding achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_02_B2203; source_row=36014
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, and AAO agreed, that the Petitioner met this criterion by establishing she received nationally recognized awards.

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The Director found, and AAO agreed, that the Petitioner met this criterion by establishing she received nationally recognized awards.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_02_B2203; source_row=36013
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the HOA election letter did not establish recognition from peers, governmental entities, or professional/business organizations in the field; the inventory system letter did not claim industry-wide significance; and the franchise owner letter identified only personal business success without significant contributions to the industry.

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AAO found that the HOA election letter did not establish recognition from peers, governmental entities, or professional/business organizations in the field; the inventory system letter did not claim industry-wide significance; and the franchise owner letter identified only personal business success without significant contributions to the industry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_01_B5203; source_row=36008
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience in the occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that only three letters included the required specific description of duties (covering less than 3.5 years), only three letters specified full-time experience (covering 6 years 8 months), and the convenience store letter lacked duty descriptions and corroboration.

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AAO found that only three letters included the required specific description of duties (covering less than 3.5 years), only three letters specified full-time experience (covering 6 years 8 months), and the convenience store letter lacked duty descriptions and corroboration.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_01_B5203; source_row=36006
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination (exceptional ability)

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet at least three criteria, but noted in the alternative that the record as a whole would not establish exceptional ability regardless.

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AAO declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet at least three criteria, but noted in the alternative that the record as a whole would not establish exceptional ability regardless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_01_B5203; source_row=36009
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner did not address the Director's grounds for denial on appeal, AAO treated the issue as waived and affirmed the adverse determination.

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Because the Petitioner did not address the Director's grounds for denial on appeal, AAO treated the issue as waived and affirmed the adverse determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_01_B5203; source_row=36004
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

academic record

academic degree relating to area of exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the physical education degree does not relate to business, the appellate assertion was unsupported, the transcript showed no business coursework, and the employer-led training courses were not from institutions of learning as required.

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AAO agreed that the physical education degree does not relate to business, the appellate assertion was unsupported, the transcript showed no business coursework, and the employer-led training courses were not from institutions of learning as required.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-21_01_B5203; source_row=36005
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although the articles are primarily about the Petitioner and his work, the Petitioner failed to provide adequate circulation statistics for any of the submitted publications and did not offer comparison data, so none of the publications was shown to constitute major media.

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Although the articles are primarily about the Petitioner and his work, the Petitioner failed to provide adequate circulation statistics for any of the submitted publications and did not offer comparison data, so none of the publications was shown to constitute major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2024-02-20_01_B2203; source_row=35980
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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