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 9481–9490

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner demonstrated participation as a judge of others' work in speech and theatrical coaching or an allied field.

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The AAO affirmed the Director's finding that the Petitioner demonstrated participation as a judge of others' work in speech and theatrical coaching or an allied field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-10_01_B2203; source_row=30392
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organization

Why the evidence was persuasive

The film festival constitutes an 'organization' as an organized body of people with a particular purpose, consistent with prior AAO precedent finding an Albanian film festival to be an organization. The letter from the festival director listing the Petitioner's annual activities demonstrates he made significant contributions as a founder and academic director, satisfying the critical role requirement.

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The film festival constitutes an 'organization' as an organized body of people with a particular purpose, consistent with prior AAO precedent finding an Albanian film festival to be an organization. The letter from the festival director listing the Petitioner's annual activities demonstrates he made significant contributions as a founder and academic director, satisfying the critical role requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-10_01_B2203; source_row=30393
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the petitioner

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director overlooked a printout from an international media-tracking organization citing a study that found the newspaper the most widely read print medium in Colombia in 2016, not long after the article's 2011 publication, which a preponderance of evidence establishes as a major Colombian medium at the time.

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The Director overlooked a printout from an international media-tracking organization citing a study that found the newspaper the most widely read print medium in Colombia in 2016, not long after the article's 2011 publication, which a preponderance of evidence establishes as a major Colombian medium at the time.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-10_01_B2203; source_row=30391
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that YPO's membership criteria are based on age, job title, and employer size/income rather than outstanding achievement. The qualitative requirements were not elaborated or supported in the record, and board membership obtained by majority vote of chapter members did not demonstrate selection based on outstanding achievement by recognized national or international experts.

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AAO found that YPO's membership criteria are based on age, job title, and employer size/income rather than outstanding achievement. The qualitative requirements were not elaborated or supported in the record, and board membership obtained by majority vote of chapter members did not demonstrate selection based on outstanding achievement by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-09_01_B2203; source_row=30384
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found two independent flaws: the Petitioner compared his total remuneration (salary, bonuses, stock options) against the base salary of others, which is not an accurate comparison; and the Petitioner compared himself to single-role CEOs rather than to others performing both CEO and Managing Partner duties.

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AAO found two independent flaws: the Petitioner compared his total remuneration (salary, bonuses, stock options) against the base salary of others, which is not an accurate comparison; and the Petitioner compared himself to single-role CEOs rather than to others performing both CEO and Managing Partner duties.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-09_01_B2203; source_row=30387
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record did not include evidence demonstrating that the primary organization has a distinguished reputation. Evidence relating to portfolio acquisitions did not address the reputation of the organization itself, and no evidence was submitted regarding the reputation of other associated organizations.

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AAO found the record did not include evidence demonstrating that the primary organization has a distinguished reputation. Evidence relating to portfolio acquisitions did not address the reputation of the organization itself, and no evidence was submitted regarding the reputation of other associated organizations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-09_01_B2203; source_row=30386
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

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

AAO found that only two articles had author names, but those two articles were not about the Petitioner—they only briefly quoted him. Even if the remaining articles had included author and publication details, only one would represent material about the Petitioner.…

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AAO found that only two articles had author names, but those two articles were not about the Petitioner—they only briefly quoted him. Even if the remaining articles had included author and publication details, only one would represent material about the Petitioner. AAO also found the Petitioner failed to establish any publication as a professional or major trade publication or major medium, noting that media kits were dated years after the articles and were self-promotional.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-09_01_B2203; source_row=30385
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

specific identification of erroneous conclusion of law or statement of fact

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner indicated it would submit a brief/additional evidence within 30 days but never did so, and the appeal statement only contested ability to pay, which was not a ground for denial.

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Petitioner indicated it would submit a brief/additional evidence within 30 days but never did so, and the appeal statement only contested ability to pay, which was not a ground for denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-09_02_B5203; source_row=30390
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary possesses required advanced degree per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director that the WES credential evaluation was conclusory and lacked a detailed analytical basis, was inconsistent with EDGE (which equates the Título Profesional to a U.S. bachelor's degree), and that state licensure does not establish foreign degree equivalency for labor certification purposes.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the WES credential evaluation was conclusory and lacked a detailed analytical basis, was inconsistent with EDGE (which equates the Título Profesional to a U.S. bachelor's degree), and that state licensure does not establish foreign degree equivalency for labor certification purposes.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-09_01_B5203; source_row=30389
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial threshold of three criteria, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not establish the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a formal final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the initial threshold of three criteria, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-11-09_01_B2203; source_row=30388
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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