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 7180

EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found this criterion satisfied based on various articles about the Petitioner published in major newspapers and media over two decades.

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AAO found this criterion satisfied based on various articles about the Petitioner published in major newspapers and media over two decades.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_04_B2203; source_row=45200
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found this criterion satisfied based on evidence of the Petitioner's performances and music videos displayed at concerts, shows, and other events.

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AAO found this criterion satisfied based on evidence of the Petitioner's performances and music videos displayed at concerts, shows, and other events.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_04_B2203; source_row=45202
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found this criterion satisfied based on letters documenting the Petitioner's participation as a judge in two television talent-hunt programs.

Why this is useful

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AAO found this criterion satisfied based on letters documenting the Petitioner's participation as a judge in two television talent-hunt programs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_04_B2203; source_row=45201
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both SCOPS and AAO found the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of his participation as a judge of others' work in his field.

Why this is useful

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Both SCOPS and AAO found the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of his participation as a judge of others' work in his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_02_B2203; source_row=45178
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Commercial successNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Commercial success

commercial successes in the performing arts

What the decision said

The Petitioner claimed this criterion in his combined motions to reopen and reconsider but omitted the claim on appeal, effectively waiving it.

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The Petitioner claimed this criterion in his combined motions to reopen and reconsider but omitted the claim on appeal, effectively waiving it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_02_B2203; source_row=45183
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published materials in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the Petitioner declined to rely on web-traffic analytics, he could not demonstrate major trade publications. The 2017 article's publisher was an online magazine for women—not a professional publication—and the 2021 article appeared in a retail store blog intended for musicians and music lovers broadly, not professional musicians specifically.

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Because the Petitioner declined to rely on web-traffic analytics, he could not demonstrate major trade publications. The 2017 article's publisher was an online magazine for women—not a professional publication—and the 2021 article appeared in a retail store blog intended for musicians and music lovers broadly, not professional musicians specifically.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_02_B2203; source_row=45177
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both SCOPS and AAO found the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of display of his work in the field at artistic exhibitions or showcases.

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Both SCOPS and AAO found the Petitioner submitted sufficient evidence of display of his work in the field at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_02_B2203; source_row=45180
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

published material about the petitioner in major media (articles about petitioner and work)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the criterion relating to published articles about her and her work in the field.

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AAO agreed with SCOPS that the Petitioner satisfied the criterion relating to published articles about her and her work in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_06_B2203; source_row=45223
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the initial evidence threshold, citing Bagamasbad for the proposition that advisory findings on unnecessary issues are not required.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the initial evidence threshold, citing Bagamasbad for the proposition that advisory findings on unnecessary issues are not required.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_06_B2203; source_row=45225
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

high salary

What the decision said

AAO reserved the high salary criterion because the Petitioner had already failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, making further analysis unnecessary to the outcome.

Why this is useful

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AAO reserved the high salary criterion because the Petitioner had already failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, making further analysis unnecessary to the outcome.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2026-03-25_03_B2203; source_row=45194
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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