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 821830

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO reviewed this criterion on the merits and found it not met due to lack of contemporaneous documentary evidence, undated and uninformative photographs, and irreconcilable inconsistencies between two letters attributed to the same person (C.S.), one of which contained a template '[Your Name]' placeholder in the signature block.

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AAO reviewed this criterion on the merits and found it not met due to lack of contemporaneous documentary evidence, undated and uninformative photographs, and irreconcilable inconsistencies between two letters attributed to the same person (C.S.), one of which contained a template '[Your Name]' placeholder in the signature block.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_02_B2203; source_row=44005
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the submitted articles failed to qualify: viewership data was for the wrong website, some articles were not about the Petitioner in any substantial way, and 15 identical articles appeared simultaneously across outlets as apparent press releases with unverified authorship, raising serious credibility concerns.

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AAO found that the submitted articles failed to qualify: viewership data was for the wrong website, some articles were not about the Petitioner in any substantial way, and 15 identical articles appeared simultaneously across outlets as apparent press releases with unverified authorship, raising serious credibility concerns.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_02_B2203; source_row=44002
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted an advisory aggregate review and found the record does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim, noting the narrow time range of evidence, heavy reliance on letters with credibility issues, and geographic limitation to parts of Florida.

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AAO conducted an advisory aggregate review and found the record does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim, noting the narrow time range of evidence, heavy reliance on letters with credibility issues, and geographic limitation to parts of Florida.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_02_B2203; source_row=44007
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that neither event qualified as an artistic exhibition: one was a promotional demonstration of salon techniques, and the other was a commercial beauty industry tradeshow where the Petitioner participated as a brand representative rather than as the featured artistic subject.

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AAO found that neither event qualified as an artistic exhibition: one was a promotional demonstration of salon techniques, and the other was a commercial beauty industry tradeshow where the Petitioner participated as a brand representative rather than as the featured artistic subject.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_02_B2203; source_row=44004
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO reviewed this criterion on the merits and found it not met: none of the letters provided detailed and probative information establishing how the Petitioner's role was leading or critical, the salon name was consistently misspelled even in letters from the salon's own officials, and the Petitioner submitted no evidence to establish that any of the organizations had a distinguished reputation.

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AAO reviewed this criterion on the merits and found it not met: none of the letters provided detailed and probative information establishing how the Petitioner's role was leading or critical, the salon name was consistently misspelled even in letters from the salon's own officials, and the Petitioner submitted no evidence to establish that any of the organizations had a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_02_B2203; source_row=44006
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 with the Director that the Petitioner's proposed nutrition counseling company did not have national importance. The projected economic impacts from employment, taxes, and healthcare outcomes did not rise to the level of substantial positive economic effects at a national scale, and the endeavor did not qualify under STEM policy guidance.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner's proposed nutrition counseling company did not have national importance. The projected economic impacts from employment, taxes, and healthcare outcomes did not rise to the level of substantial positive economic effects at a national scale, and the endeavor did not qualify under STEM policy guidance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_02_B5203; source_row=44009
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 found that generalized industry articles about the importance of industrial engineering do not establish that the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor satisfies the national importance requirement of Dhanasar's first prong.

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AAO found that generalized industry articles about the importance of industrial engineering do not establish that the Petitioner's specific proposed endeavor satisfies the national importance requirement of Dhanasar's first prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_07_B5203; source_row=44055
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirms based on the Petitioner's authorship or co-authorship of 15 research papers and three technical reports.

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AAO affirms based on the Petitioner's authorship or co-authorship of 15 research papers and three technical reports.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_04_B2203; source_row=44029
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirms the Director's finding that the Petitioner met this criterion based on his peer review of more than 50 research papers.

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AAO affirms the Director's finding that the Petitioner met this criterion based on his peer review of more than 50 research papers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_04_B2203; source_row=44027
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIEngineer

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letter and member guide indicate that committee members need experience or publications, but fall short of establishing eminence and distinction. The record also lacks evidence that committee members are judged by recognized national or international experts.

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The letter and member guide indicate that committee members need experience or publications, but fall short of establishing eminence and distinction. The record also lacks evidence that committee members are judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-04-10_04_B2203; source_row=44026
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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