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 9551–9560

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

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion; AAO did not separately elaborate on this finding.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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Both the Director and AAO agreed the Petitioner satisfied the judging criterion; AAO did not separately elaborate on this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-28_01_B2203; source_row=30298
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest the Director's conclusion regarding authorship of scholarly articles on appeal, and therefore waived appeal on that issue.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The Petitioner did not contest the Director's conclusion regarding authorship of scholarly articles on appeal, and therefore waived appeal on that issue.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-28_01_B2203; source_row=30300
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Petitioner's knowledge, skills, and experience relate to the second prong but did not conduct further analysis because prong one was dispositive.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO noted that the Petitioner's knowledge, skills, and experience relate to the second prong but did not conduct further analysis because prong one was dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-28_01_B5203; source_row=30304
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the advanced-degree requirement was not met but on a different basis: since dentistry customarily requires a doctoral degree, the regulation does not allow a combination of education and experience to substitute, and the credential evaluator did not actually claim the Petitioner holds a foreign equivalent doctorate.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the advanced-degree requirement was not met but on a different basis: since dentistry customarily requires a doctoral degree, the regulation does not allow a combination of education and experience to substitute, and the credential evaluator did not actually claim the Petitioner holds a foreign equivalent doctorate.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-27_02_B5203; source_row=30293
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 Petitioner's evidence focused on her own credentials and the importance of nursing generally, rather than on the specific endeavor's broader impact. Recommendation letters and industry reports did not establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.

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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AAO found Petitioner's evidence focused on her own credentials and the importance of nursing generally, rather than on the specific endeavor's broader impact. Recommendation letters and industry reports did not establish national importance of the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-27_01_B5203; source_row=30290
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

Exceptional ability — three-criteria threshold

What the decision said

Because the Petitioner did not challenge the Director's exceptional-ability finding on appeal, AAO treated the issue as waived and affirmed the denial on this ground.

Why this is useful

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

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Because the Petitioner did not challenge the Director's exceptional-ability finding on appeal, AAO treated the issue as waived and affirmed the denial on this ground.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-27_02_B5203; source_row=30294
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

Substantial merit and national importance

What the decision said

AAO reserved this prong because the NIW issue was moot given failure to establish EB-2 eligibility, but noted the record does not show national importance as the proposed endeavor would not sufficiently impact U.S. interests or the dental industry more broadly.

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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AAO reserved this prong because the NIW issue was moot given failure to establish EB-2 eligibility, but noted the record does not show national importance as the proposed endeavor would not sufficiently impact U.S. interests or the dental industry more broadly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-27_02_B5203; source_row=30295
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherPhD

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded that the reference letters clearly explained how the Petitioner's contributions are of major significance and their impact on the field and on the authors' own work, satisfying the plain language of the criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded that the reference letters clearly explained how the Petitioner's contributions are of major significance and their impact on the field and on the authors' own work, satisfying the plain language of the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-27_01_B2203; source_row=30289
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhysician2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO reviewed the record in the aggregate as an advisory matter and found it did not establish sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner 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.

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AAO reviewed the record in the aggregate as an advisory matter and found it did not establish sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-26_01_B2203; source_row=30276
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhysician2,011 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the record supported that the Petitioner performed a leading role at one company and a critical role at another, he failed to establish that either organization had a distinguished reputation 'marked by eminence, distinction, or excellence.' The evidence of awards and recognitions did not sufficiently demonstrate the significance or the companies' standing relative to comparable organizations in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that while the record supported that the Petitioner performed a leading role at one company and a critical role at another, he failed to establish that either organization had a distinguished reputation 'marked by eminence, distinction, or excellence.' The evidence of awards and recognitions did not sufficiently demonstrate the significance or the companies' standing relative to comparable organizations in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-26_01_B2203; source_row=30274
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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