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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 9341–9350

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

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The UNESCO award was given to 188 of 407 handicrafts to preserve cultural diversity, not for excellence in the field, and lacked national/international media coverage. The regional initiative award criteria (original goods, exhibition participation, job creation) do not reflect excellence in the field. The People's Embroidery award was limited to association members, precluding national/international recognition.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The UNESCO award was given to 188 of 407 handicrafts to preserve cultural diversity, not for excellence in the field, and lacked national/international media coverage. The regional initiative award criteria (original goods, exhibition participation, job creation) do not reflect excellence in the field. The People's Embroidery award was limited to association members, precluding national/international recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-19_01_B2203; source_row=30579
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted an aggregate review and found the record does not support sustained national or international acclaim or a career of acclaimed work. The Petitioner has not demonstrated he is among the small percentage at the very top of his field.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO conducted an aggregate review and found the record does not support sustained national or international acclaim or a career of acclaimed work. The Petitioner has not demonstrated he is among the small percentage at the very top of his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-19_01_B2203; source_row=30587
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

AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner's one-to-three page articles and book were not shown to be scholarly (no peer review, no source references, no evidence other scholars noticed the work). Additionally, the publications' circulation figures did not demonstrate they qualify as major media or professional/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.

View full reasoning +
AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Petitioner's one-to-three page articles and book were not shown to be scholarly (no peer review, no source references, no evidence other scholars noticed the work). Additionally, the publications' circulation figures did not demonstrate they qualify as major media or professional/major trade publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-19_01_B2203; source_row=30584
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the record contains sufficient documentary evidence establishing that the Petitioner meets the display criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the record contains sufficient documentary evidence establishing that the Petitioner meets the display criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-19_01_B2203; source_row=30585
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Willful misrepresentation of material facts

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director did not sufficiently analyze how the Beneficiary knowingly submitted false information, and the Petitioner established it had no knowledge of the expert's credential falsification at the time of submission. Since willful misrepresentation requires knowledge of falsity, the finding could not stand.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Director did not sufficiently analyze how the Beneficiary knowingly submitted false information, and the Petitioner established it had no knowledge of the expert's credential falsification at the time of submission. Since willful misrepresentation requires knowledge of falsity, the finding could not stand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-19_01_B5203; source_row=30588
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner failed on two independent grounds: (1) she did not identify a specific and consistent proposed endeavor, having materially changed it from working at a healthcare facility to running a business and advising multinationals; and (2) even analyzing a physical therapy business as the endeavor, the evidence addressed only the importance of the field generally, not the national impact of the specific ende…

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 found the Petitioner failed on two independent grounds: (1) she did not identify a specific and consistent proposed endeavor, having materially changed it from working at a healthcare facility to running a business and advising multinationals; and (2) even analyzing a physical therapy business as the endeavor, the evidence addressed only the importance of the field generally, not the national impact of the specific endeavor — projected job creation of five jobs and $268,404 in payroll did not rise to the level of national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-16_01_B5203; source_row=30576
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 plant propagation has substantial merit as a field, the Petitioner failed to describe a specific proposed endeavor with sufficient detail, and the evidence did not show that his work would have national-level impact or implications beyond what is already available in the field. Conclusory letters of recommendation were given little probative value.

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 agreed that while plant propagation has substantial merit as a field, the Petitioner failed to describe a specific proposed endeavor with sufficient detail, and the evidence did not show that his work would have national-level impact or implications beyond what is already available in the field. Conclusory letters of recommendation were given little probative value.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-14_01_B5203; source_row=30572
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Material change to the certified job opportunity

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that a 10% variation in job duties does not constitute a material change in the certified position, particularly where the employer demonstrated the duties are substantially the same and the change represents a normal progression in employment.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that a 10% variation in job duties does not constitute a material change in the certified position, particularly where the employer demonstrated the duties are substantially the same and the change represents a normal progression in employment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-14_02_B5203; source_row=30575
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded that the proposed endeavor—primarily growing a company and renting products—confers benefits mainly on the Petitioner's business and its customers, not the nation. Job creation claims were inadequately supported, the economic impact report relied on the Petitioner's unverified projections, the military application lacked specifics, and the STEAM outreach lacked detail and demonstrated broader impact.…

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 concluded that the proposed endeavor—primarily growing a company and renting products—confers benefits mainly on the Petitioner's business and its customers, not the nation. Job creation claims were inadequately supported, the economic impact report relied on the Petitioner's unverified projections, the military application lacked specifics, and the STEAM outreach lacked detail and demonstrated broader impact. Reference letters were conclusory and did not meaningfully address the endeavor's national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-13_01_B5203; source_row=30569
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive job offer

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach prong 3, reserving it as unnecessary because the failure under prong 1 is dispositive.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly declined to reach prong 3, reserving it as unnecessary because the failure under prong 1 is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-13_01_B5203; source_row=30571
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment