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 9061–9070

EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

Published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner focused on requirements not cited in the Director's denial and failed to address the competitor-versus-coaching distinction, effectively abandoning or waiving this criterion on appeal.

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The Petitioner focused on requirements not cited in the Director's denial and failed to address the competitor-versus-coaching distinction, effectively abandoning or waiving this criterion on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-13_02_B2203; source_row=31022
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 evidence lacked a required translation, the Petitioner failed to provide current viewership data, and the program's status as a local community newscast did not establish it as a major medium.

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The evidence lacked a required translation, the Petitioner failed to provide current viewership data, and the program's status as a local community newscast did not establish it as a major medium.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-13_01_B2203; source_row=31012
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

What the decision said

AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence requirements, citing INS v. Bagamasbad.

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AAO explicitly reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial evidence requirements, citing INS v. Bagamasbad.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-13_01_B2203; source_row=31015
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to establish he is well positioned. His master's degree is a positive factor but insufficient alone; his current position is temporary and the prospective position contingent; recommendation letters lack specificity about impact; citations are modest and not shown to reflect significant interest from relevant parties; NSF funding involvement was not as a named recipient or primary contact; a…

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AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to establish he is well positioned. His master's degree is a positive factor but insufficient alone; his current position is temporary and the prospective position contingent; recommendation letters lack specificity about impact; citations are modest and not shown to reflect significant interest from relevant parties; NSF funding involvement was not as a named recipient or primary contact; and peer review activity was not shown to represent a record of success.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-09_02_B5203; source_row=31008
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's membership in the first organization expired before the Director's decision and the record does not show renewal, so continuous eligibility through adjudication was not established. Membership in the second organization began after the petition filing date and thus constitutes a new set of facts that cannot cure the deficiency. Neither membership satisfies the criterion.

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The Petitioner's membership in the first organization expired before the Director's decision and the record does not show renewal, so continuous eligibility through adjudication was not established. Membership in the second organization began after the petition filing date and thus constitutes a new set of facts that cannot cure the deficiency. Neither membership satisfies the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-09_01_B5203; source_row=30995
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The article submitted does not qualify as a scholarly article because it appears intended for a general audience rather than learned persons in the field, and the Petitioner offered no arguments to the contrary.

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The article submitted does not qualify as a scholarly article because it appears intended for a general audience rather than learned persons in the field, and the Petitioner offered no arguments to the contrary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-09_02_B2203; source_row=31002
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

Two weeks of remuneration is insufficient to meet the Petitioner's burden under this criterion; foreign persons earning on a contract basis must provide sufficient evidence to calculate past earnings over a definite period, and a single two-week engagement falls short.

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Two weeks of remuneration is insufficient to meet the Petitioner's burden under this criterion; foreign persons earning on a contract basis must provide sufficient evidence to calculate past earnings over a definite period, and a single two-week engagement falls short.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-09_02_B2203; source_row=31004
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership

Why AAO was not persuaded

Without bylaws or other official documentation of membership criteria, AAO cannot evaluate whether the claimed memberships are qualifying. AAO will not presume exclusive membership requirements from an association's general reputation.

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Without bylaws or other official documentation of membership criteria, AAO cannot evaluate whether the claimed memberships are qualifying. AAO will not presume exclusive membership requirements from an association's general reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-09_02_B2203; source_row=31000
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination - sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes that competitive BJJ acclaim does not equate to acclaim in law-enforcement training; the medal came from a belt-, age-, and weight-restricted division; recognition of the [REDACTED] course does not name or accrue to the Petitioner personally; success within his agency does not establish acclaim beyond it; and the Congressman's letter requests but does not show receipt of an award, and post-filing evidence cann…

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AAO concludes that competitive BJJ acclaim does not equate to acclaim in law-enforcement training; the medal came from a belt-, age-, and weight-restricted division; recognition of the [REDACTED] course does not name or accrue to the Petitioner personally; success within his agency does not establish acclaim beyond it; and the Congressman's letter requests but does not show receipt of an award, and post-filing evidence cannot retroactively establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-09_01_B2203; source_row=30991
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that considering the totality of the evidence, the Petitioner sufficiently demonstrated both the substantial merit and national importance of his proposed endeavor, reversing the Director on the national importance portion.

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AAO found that considering the totality of the evidence, the Petitioner sufficiently demonstrated both the substantial merit and national importance of his proposed endeavor, reversing the Director on the national importance portion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-02-09_02_B5203; source_row=31007
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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