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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 751–760
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
procedural or other
motion to reconsider - incorrect application of law or policy
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO walked through each previously-decided criterion (awards, membership, published material, original contributions, high salary) and found the Petitioner's arguments either restated prior assertions, mischaracterized the record, or failed to cite supporting evidence. AAO also reaffirmed its authority under Bagamasbad to reserve criteria not necessary to the outcome.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO walked through each previously-decided criterion (awards, membership, published material, original contributions, high salary) and found the Petitioner's arguments either restated prior assertions, mischaracterized the record, or failed to cite supporting evidence. AAO also reaffirmed its authority under Bagamasbad to reserve criteria not necessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-16_02_B2203; source_row=44128 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
procedural or other
motion to reopen - new facts supported by documentary evidence
Why AAO was not persuaded
The new materials either duplicated previously-submitted evidence or provided no information establishing wider recognition of the award or major-media status of the publications.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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The new materials either duplicated previously-submitted evidence or provided no information establishing wider recognition of the award or major-media status of the publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-16_02_B2203; source_row=44129 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO accepted that the U.S. would benefit from the Petitioner's contributions even if qualified U.S. workers were available, but found he failed to show it would be impractical to obtain a job offer/labor certification or that the national interest in his contributions was sufficiently urgent to warrant forgoing labor certification.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
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AAO accepted that the U.S. would benefit from the Petitioner's contributions even if qualified U.S. workers were available, but found he failed to show it would be impractical to obtain a job offer/labor certification or that the national interest in his contributions was sufficiently urgent to warrant forgoing labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_04_B5203; source_row=44122 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 agrees the endeavor has substantial merit but finds the record fails to show national importance: the Petitioner cites no evidence supporting claims that the Beneficiary's work materially drives the cited federal programs, and the support letters and articles do not show how his work on specific equipment and vessels extends beyond those individual projects.
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 agrees the endeavor has substantial merit but finds the record fails to show national importance: the Petitioner cites no evidence supporting claims that the Beneficiary's work materially drives the cited federal programs, and the support letters and articles do not show how his work on specific equipment and vessels extends beyond those individual projects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_01_B5203; source_row=44103 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
leading or critical role for distinguished organizations
Why AAO was not persuaded
Although AAO disagreed with SCOPS' dismissal of the federation letter on employment grounds, it still found the evidence insufficient: the federation letter did not establish significant importance to the organization's activities, the federation's distinguished reputation was not demonstrated, and a 2017 news article cast doubt on the Petitioner's claimed role in developing the dance school chain's methodology since the ch…
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
Although AAO disagreed with SCOPS' dismissal of the federation letter on employment grounds, it still found the evidence insufficient: the federation letter did not establish significant importance to the organization's activities, the federation's distinguished reputation was not demonstrated, and a 2017 news article cast doubt on the Petitioner's claimed role in developing the dance school chain's methodology since the chain already had its own methodology before hiring him.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_01_B2203; source_row=44100 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
While acknowledging the dance school chain's adoption of the methodology across 100 branches, the record lacked sufficient information about the field's scope to determine major significance, most supporting evidence came from the Petitioner's former employers and coworkers rather than independent sources, and there was no documentation confirming U.S. coaches' use of the program.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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While acknowledging the dance school chain's adoption of the methodology across 100 branches, the record lacked sufficient information about the field's scope to determine major significance, most supporting evidence came from the Petitioner's former employers and coworkers rather than independent sources, and there was no documentation confirming U.S. coaches' use of the program.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_01_B2203; source_row=44098 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Why AAO was not persuaded
The admission requirements for the federation's judge license do not establish outstanding achievement, and a website printout shows 180 judges in the organization, suggesting the license is not particularly distinguished. The choreographers' union by-laws also fail to identify membership criteria or the composition of the executive body that reviews applications.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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The admission requirements for the federation's judge license do not establish outstanding achievement, and a website printout shows 180 judges in the organization, suggesting the license is not particularly distinguished. The choreographers' union by-laws also fail to identify membership criteria or the composition of the executive body that reviews applications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_01_B2203; source_row=44096 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards
Why AAO was not persuaded
The record lacks sufficient evidence of the awards' national or international recognition beyond the awarding organizations themselves. Additionally, the awards were for dancing, not choreography, and because the Petitioner has spent roughly 15 years primarily as a choreographer/coach, he cannot rely on his dancing awards to demonstrate extraordinary ability as a choreographer.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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The record lacks sufficient evidence of the awards' national or international recognition beyond the awarding organizations themselves. Additionally, the awards were for dancing, not choreography, and because the Petitioner has spent roughly 15 years primarily as a choreographer/coach, he cannot rely on his dancing awards to demonstrate extraordinary ability as a choreographer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_01_B2203; source_row=44095 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Leading / critical role
leading or critical role
Why AAO was not persuaded
The Petitioner failed to present evidence showing that the organizations for which he claimed leading or critical roles had a distinguished reputation. Because this issue was dispositive, AAO reserved the question of whether he actually performed a leading or critical role.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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The Petitioner failed to present evidence showing that the organizations for which he claimed leading or critical roles had a distinguished reputation. Because this issue was dispositive, AAO reserved the question of whether he actually performed a leading or critical role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B2203; source_row=44110 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found the Petitioner did not show his coauthored article had widespread impact, that media coverage of his criminal defense cases demonstrated original contributions of major significance, or that support letters provided sufficient specifics about original contributions that influenced the legal field.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found the Petitioner did not show his coauthored article had widespread impact, that media coverage of his criminal defense cases demonstrated original contributions of major significance, or that support letters provided sufficient specifics about original contributions that influenced the legal field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-15_02_B2203; source_row=44108 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c