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 9351–9360

NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach prong 2, reserving it as unnecessary because the failure under prong 1 is dispositive.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach prong 2, 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=30570
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

motion to reopen - new facts

Why AAO was not persuaded

The new letters did not introduce new facts and largely reasserted previously considered arguments about the Petitioner's regional popularity.

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The new letters did not introduce new facts and largely reasserted previously considered arguments about the Petitioner's regional popularity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-13_01_B2203; source_row=30567
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

motion to reconsider - legal/policy error

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner did not show the prior AAO decision misapplied law or policy; the sustained-acclaim requirement justified scrutinizing her time in the U.S., and reliance on a letter outside the prior record cannot establish legal error.

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Petitioner did not show the prior AAO decision misapplied law or policy; the sustained-acclaim requirement justified scrutinizing her time in the U.S., and reliance on a letter outside the prior record cannot establish legal error.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-13_01_B2203; source_row=30568
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed and additionally noted that membership was obtained 9 months after filing, in violation of the time-of-filing rule, and deemed the appellate argument waived for lack of specificity.

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AAO agreed and additionally noted that membership was obtained 9 months after filing, in violation of the time-of-filing rule, and deemed the appellate argument waived for lack of specificity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-12_04_B5203; source_row=30562
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 found the written works were not scholarly because they were biographical and informational in nature rather than written for learned persons in the field. The Petitioner also failed to establish that the works actually appeared in any recognized media.…

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AAO found the written works were not scholarly because they were biographical and informational in nature rather than written for learned persons in the field. The Petitioner also failed to establish that the works actually appeared in any recognized media. The advisory opinion letter was given little weight because the expert lacked relevant expertise in artisanal crafts or jewelry making and largely repeated conclusions from other documents without independent analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-12_01_B2203; source_row=30551
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record was riddled with inconsistencies in the association's name and the Petitioner's membership dates, making it impossible to determine which association the Petitioner belonged to. Even absent those inconsistencies, the letters from art critics merely repeated regulatory language without substantiating specific outstanding achievements that qualified the Petitioner for membership.

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AAO found the record was riddled with inconsistencies in the association's name and the Petitioner's membership dates, making it impossible to determine which association the Petitioner belonged to. Even absent those inconsistencies, the letters from art critics merely repeated regulatory language without substantiating specific outstanding achievements that qualified the Petitioner for membership.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-12_01_B2203; source_row=30547
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that reference letters praised the Petitioner's style and creativity but did not identify specific original contributions or explain how they were majorly significant. The letters largely repeated regulatory language, were strikingly similar in wording suggesting a common author, and lacked specific details or corroborating documentation.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO found that reference letters praised the Petitioner's style and creativity but did not identify specific original contributions or explain how they were majorly significant. The letters largely repeated regulatory language, were strikingly similar in wording suggesting a common author, and lacked specific details or corroborating documentation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-12_01_B2203; source_row=30550
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 conducted a precautionary aggregate review and found the record does not establish sustained acclaim or recognition consistent with being at the very top of the field, noting the Petitioner has not shown his work's significance is indicative of a career of acclaimed work as contemplated by Congress.

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AAO conducted a precautionary aggregate review and found the record does not establish sustained acclaim or recognition consistent with being at the very top of the field, noting the Petitioner has not shown his work's significance is indicative of a career of acclaimed work as contemplated by Congress.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-12_01_B2203; source_row=30553
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

AAO found that circulation figures were self-reported and not corroborated by independent evidence, that coverage in Bukharian Times and Business City appeared to be paid advertising rather than editorial coverage, and that the Tasvir article appeared to have been authored by the Petitioner himself, making it promotional rather than published material about him.

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AAO found that circulation figures were self-reported and not corroborated by independent evidence, that coverage in Bukharian Times and Business City appeared to be paid advertising rather than editorial coverage, and that the Tasvir article appeared to have been authored by the Petitioner himself, making it promotional rather than published material about him.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-12_01_B2203; source_row=30548
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed national importance was not established. The Petitioner's evidence showed the general importance of small businesses and immigrants to the economy, but not the national importance of his specific proposed endeavor. AAO also declined to consider the materially changed proposed endeavor (new health and fitness company) because it came into being after the petition was filed.…

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed national importance was not established. The Petitioner's evidence showed the general importance of small businesses and immigrants to the economy, but not the national importance of his specific proposed endeavor. AAO also declined to consider the materially changed proposed endeavor (new health and fitness company) because it came into being after the petition was filed. The record lacked documentation of prospective impact on the industry or U.S. economy more broadly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-12-12_03_B5203; source_row=30557
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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