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 6731–6740

EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

Reference letters did not demonstrate the originality of the work or its major significance in the field with sufficient detail, and the online articles did not mention the Petitioner or explain how his specific contributions were majorly significant.…

Why this is useful

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

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Reference letters did not demonstrate the originality of the work or its major significance in the field with sufficient detail, and the online articles did not mention the Petitioner or explain how his specific contributions were majorly significant. The Petitioner's work, while valuable to his employers, did not show substantial influence beyond those employers and did not rise to the level of major significance in the cybersecurity field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_02_B2203; source_row=34543
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 agreed that while the aviation industry reports established substantial merit, they did not demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner failed to show how one pilot filling a single position would have broader national implications, alleviate the national labor shortage, or trigger substantial positive economic benefits.

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 while the aviation industry reports established substantial merit, they did not demonstrate national importance. The Petitioner failed to show how one pilot filling a single position would have broader national implications, alleviate the national labor shortage, or trigger substantial positive economic benefits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_04_B5203; source_row=34554
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds substantial merit established but agrees the endeavor lacks national importance because Petitioner's evidence shows benefits limited to his individual clients without broader implications, and the projected jobs/tax figures in the business plan are unsupported by independent corroborating evidence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO finds substantial merit established but agrees the endeavor lacks national importance because Petitioner's evidence shows benefits limited to his individual clients without broader implications, and the projected jobs/tax figures in the business plan are unsupported by independent corroborating evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_02_B5203; source_row=34548
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

The publisher's letter did not establish the books were written for learned persons, and they appeared to be guides for using aromatherapy on children and pregnant women rather than professional or major trade publications.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The publisher's letter did not establish the books were written for learned persons, and they appeared to be guides for using aromatherapy on children and pregnant women rather than professional or major trade publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_01_B2203; source_row=34534
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Neither the ISAC member's letter nor the publisher's letter sufficiently described a specific original contribution that impacted the broader field of aromatherapy, provoked widespread commentary, or had influence on subsequent work in the field.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Neither the ISAC member's letter nor the publisher's letter sufficiently described a specific original contribution that impacted the broader field of aromatherapy, provoked widespread commentary, or had influence on subsequent work in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_01_B2203; source_row=34533
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 or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO disagreed with the Director and withdrew the finding. While acknowledging the awards, AAO found the Petitioner had not provided documentation to establish their significance such that receipt of those awards would demonstrate the distinguished reputation of the company.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO disagreed with the Director and withdrew the finding. While acknowledging the awards, AAO found the Petitioner had not provided documentation to establish their significance such that receipt of those awards would demonstrate the distinguished reputation of the company.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_01_B2203; source_row=34535
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

The IFA has five levels of membership requiring completion of particular courses and payment of an annual fee; it does not require outstanding achievement as an essential condition for membership.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The IFA has five levels of membership requiring completion of particular courses and payment of an annual fee; it does not require outstanding achievement as an essential condition for membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_01_B2203; source_row=34531
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

Membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

HR generalist is not listed as a profession customarily requiring a bachelor's degree, and the record does not describe the membership criteria for SHRM or AHRD sufficiently to conclude that membership is reserved for professionals.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

View full reasoning +
HR generalist is not listed as a profession customarily requiring a bachelor's degree, and the record does not describe the membership criteria for SHRM or AHRD sufficiently to conclude that membership is reserved for professionals.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_07_B5203; source_row=34564
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

The recommendation letters were vague about the petitioner's actual duties and did not demonstrate that prior activities were similar efforts to the proposed barbershop/training school endeavor. Education and skills alone are insufficient without demonstrated record of success in comparable efforts.

Why this is useful

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

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The recommendation letters were vague about the petitioner's actual duties and did not demonstrate that prior activities were similar efforts to the proposed barbershop/training school endeavor. Education and skills alone are insufficient without demonstrated record of success in comparable efforts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_09_B5203; source_row=34577
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the entrepreneurial nature of the proposed endeavor supported a finding of substantial merit, the petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The record lacked evidence of broader implications or significant economic impact; job creation claims were vague and unquantified, and training barbers was analogized to teaching with only local benefit.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
While the entrepreneurial nature of the proposed endeavor supported a finding of substantial merit, the petitioner failed to demonstrate national importance. The record lacked evidence of broader implications or significant economic impact; job creation claims were vague and unquantified, and training barbers was analogized to teaching with only local benefit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-11-17_09_B5203; source_row=34576
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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