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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 9401–9410
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
What the decision said
AAO found the Director evaluated the petitioner under the wrong field (traditional Chinese medicine rather than education in the discipline), failed to evaluate whether the letters and articles show major contributions as an educator, and improperly applied the final-merits standard to an individual criterion.…
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found the Director evaluated the petitioner under the wrong field (traditional Chinese medicine rather than education in the discipline), failed to evaluate whether the letters and articles show major contributions as an educator, and improperly applied the final-merits standard to an individual criterion. AAO also noted the director requested additional letters via RFE and then penalized the petitioner for submitting them.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-30_02_B2203; source_row=30502 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
published material about the individual
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO found the Director erroneously characterized the articles and the online sources, concluding that the materials are in fact about the petitioner and his work, are legible, include proper titles/dates/authors, and include certified translations. AAO independently concluded this criterion is satisfied.
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found the Director erroneously characterized the articles and the online sources, concluding that the materials are in fact about the petitioner and his work, are legible, include proper titles/dates/authors, and include certified translations. AAO independently concluded this criterion is satisfied.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-30_02_B2203; source_row=30501 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
What the decision said
AAO found the Director failed to adequately assess the tax statements (which are legitimately unsigned, being downloaded from a government platform) and that the salary analysis was misplaced due to the Director's erroneous categorization of the petitioner's field. Remanded for full evaluation.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found the Director failed to adequately assess the tax statements (which are legitimately unsigned, being downloaded from a government platform) and that the salary analysis was misplaced due to the Director's erroneous categorization of the petitioner's field. Remanded for full evaluation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-30_02_B2203; source_row=30505 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputations
What the decision said
AAO found the Director's analysis consisted of conclusory statements without corresponding analysis, and remanded for full evaluation of all evidence submitted in support of this criterion.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found the Director's analysis consisted of conclusory statements without corresponding analysis, and remanded for full evaluation of all evidence submitted in support of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-30_02_B2203; source_row=30504 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Business / Management
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
What the decision said
The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one, and further analysis would serve no meaningful purpose.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
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The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one, and further analysis would serve no meaningful purpose.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-30_02_B5203; source_row=30507 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Business / Management
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to waive the job offer requirement
What the decision said
The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one, and further analysis would serve no meaningful purpose.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
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The AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner failed to meet prong one, and further analysis would serve no meaningful purpose.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-30_02_B5203; source_row=30508 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Computer Science / AI
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found that the Petitioner only broadly claimed she would advance sensor network and machine learning research without specifying the type of research she intended to pursue. Reference letters discussed her past and current work but did not identify a specific prospective endeavor. Her teaching activities lacked evidence of broader national impact beyond her local students.
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
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The AAO found that the Petitioner only broadly claimed she would advance sensor network and machine learning research without specifying the type of research she intended to pursue. Reference letters discussed her past and current work but did not identify a specific prospective endeavor. Her teaching activities lacked evidence of broader national impact beyond her local students.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-30_01_B5203; source_row=30497 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Finance
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Final merits
Final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the new evidence did not overcome the deficiencies identified in the appellate dismissal. Letters from former executives were undermined by inaccurate factual claims; articles merely identified the petitioner as a source of information without evidencing acclaim; circulation figures addressed only the threshold criterion already granted; and the salary history did not shift the overall calculus.
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Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found that the new evidence did not overcome the deficiencies identified in the appellate dismissal. Letters from former executives were undermined by inaccurate factual claims; articles merely identified the petitioner as a source of information without evidencing acclaim; circulation figures addressed only the threshold criterion already granted; and the salary history did not shift the overall calculus.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-29_01_B2203; source_row=30484 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Biomedical / Life Sciences
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or other significantly high remuneration
What the decision said
The Petitioner did not pursue her initial stance on the high salary criterion on appeal and did not contest the Director's decision relating to it; AAO therefore deemed the issue waived.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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The Petitioner did not pursue her initial stance on the high salary criterion on appeal and did not contest the Director's decision relating to it; AAO therefore deemed the issue waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-29_02_B2203; source_row=30490 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c