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 6491–6500

NIWrecognitionNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

recognition

evidence of recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

What the decision said

AAO declined to address this criterion because the Petitioner had not met the threshold requirement of three out of six criteria.

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AAO declined to address this criterion because the Petitioner had not met the threshold requirement of three out of six criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-12_05_B5203; source_row=34989
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record showing degree or diploma relating to the area of exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's assertion that his high school general education relates to his area of exceptional ability was unsupported. The training certificates from technology companies were not official academic records from qualifying institutions of learning.

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The Petitioner's assertion that his high school general education relates to his area of exceptional ability was unsupported. The training certificates from technology companies were not official academic records from qualifying institutions of learning.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-12_05_B5203; source_row=34984
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice the profession or certification for a particular profession or occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record does not show that employment in the Petitioner's proposed occupations requires a license, and the certificates do not constitute licensure or certification to practice any particular profession or occupation.

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The record does not show that employment in the Petitioner's proposed occupations requires a license, and the certificates do not constitute licensure or certification to practice any particular profession or occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-12_05_B5203; source_row=34986
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that neither the Venezuelan company nor the U.S. employer was shown to have a distinguished reputation. The Venezuelan company's manufacture of one popular action figure and resulting media coverage did not establish it as large, long-established, or with a wide customer base; the U.S. employer's comic book publication and convention participation similarly failed to demonstrate a distinguished reputation.

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The AAO agreed that neither the Venezuelan company nor the U.S. employer was shown to have a distinguished reputation. The Venezuelan company's manufacture of one popular action figure and resulting media coverage did not establish it as large, long-established, or with a wide customer base; the U.S. employer's comic book publication and convention participation similarly failed to demonstrate a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-11_01_B2203; source_row=34953
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 in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the publication sources did not qualify as professional or major trade publications because they did not target artists as their audience, and none qualified as other major media based on readership statistics and rankings, with even the highest-traffic source ranking only 135th in Venezuela and 4,021st in its industry.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found the publication sources did not qualify as professional or major trade publications because they did not target artists as their audience, and none qualified as other major media based on readership statistics and rankings, with even the highest-traffic source ranking only 135th in Venezuela and 4,021st in its industry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-11_01_B2203; source_row=34951
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the articles addressed the importance of the consulting industry generally rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor; the business plan's projections of 30 jobs and $500,000 in payroll taxes in five years were insufficient to demonstrate substantial positive economic effects commensurate with national importance; and the recommendation letters showed experience and good results but not broad national im…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO agreed that the articles addressed the importance of the consulting industry generally rather than the Petitioner's specific endeavor; the business plan's projections of 30 jobs and $500,000 in payroll taxes in five years were insufficient to demonstrate substantial positive economic effects commensurate with national importance; and the recommendation letters showed experience and good results but not broad national impact. The Petitioner also failed to show a distinctive replicable methodology.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-11_02_B5203; source_row=34959
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent with five years of progressive experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds the foreign-equivalent bachelor's degree is established by the diploma and transcripts, but the experience letters contain unresolved discrepancies and apparent willful material misrepresentations regarding dates and hours of employment, undermining the five-years-of-progressive-experience showing.

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AAO finds the foreign-equivalent bachelor's degree is established by the diploma and transcripts, but the experience letters contain unresolved discrepancies and apparent willful material misrepresentations regarding dates and hours of employment, undermining the five-years-of-progressive-experience showing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-11_03_B5203; source_row=34962
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that a preponderance of the evidence established the award as nationally recognized in Venezuela and awarded for excellence in the field, noting the award foundation president's statements about national selection, televised issuance, and evaluation by experts in plastic arts.

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The AAO found that a preponderance of the evidence established the award as nationally recognized in Venezuela and awarded for excellence in the field, noting the award foundation president's statements about national selection, televised issuance, and evaluation by experts in plastic arts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-11_01_B2203; source_row=34950
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

The AAO confirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner submitted qualifying evidence of display of his work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.

Why this is useful

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The AAO confirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner submitted qualifying evidence of display of his work at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-11_01_B2203; source_row=34952
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on whether the record satisfies the second Dhanasar prong, as it was unnecessary to the ultimate decision given the failure on the first prong.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO explicitly reserved its opinion on whether the record satisfies the second Dhanasar prong, as it was unnecessary to the ultimate decision given the failure on the first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-12-11_01_B5203; source_row=34956
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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