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 9571–9580

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

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences958 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not claim this criterion on appeal; AAO deemed it waived.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner did not claim this criterion on appeal; AAO deemed it waived.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-25_01_B2203; source_row=30266
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences958 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to formally conduct the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold of three criteria, but observed in dicta that the record does not establish sustained acclaim.

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AAO declined to formally conduct the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold of three criteria, but observed in dicta that the record does not establish sustained acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-25_01_B2203; source_row=30267
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

The record shows that liver transplantation research has substantial merit (important treatment option for chronic liver failure) and national importance (limited availability of suitable livers is a national issue that organ preservation research addresses).

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 record shows that liver transplantation research has substantial merit (important treatment option for chronic liver failure) and national importance (limited availability of suitable livers is a national issue that organ preservation research addresses).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-25_01_B5203; source_row=30268
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not demonstrate that the Pilot Union qualifies as a 'professional' association, since the record did not show its membership comprises individuals holding a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent.

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The Petitioner did not demonstrate that the Pilot Union qualifies as a 'professional' association, since the record did not show its membership comprises individuals holding a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-24_01_B5203; source_row=30256
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO did not reach the substantive final merits question; it concluded the Director's analysis was inadequate because it failed to weigh the totality of the evidence and remanded for a new decision.

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AAO did not reach the substantive final merits question; it concluded the Director's analysis was inadequate because it failed to weigh the totality of the evidence and remanded for a new decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-24_02_B2101; source_row=30262
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record

Why AAO was not persuaded

The submitted certificates were not shown to be official academic records, did not show award of a degree/diploma/certificate, and the issuing entities were not shown to qualify as a college, university, school, or other institution of learning.

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The submitted certificates were not shown to be official academic records, did not show award of a degree/diploma/certificate, and the issuing entities were not shown to qualify as a college, university, school, or other institution of learning.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-24_01_B5203; source_row=30252
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The work certificate did not specify whether the Petitioner's employment was full-time, and thus did not establish at least ten years of full-time experience as required by the regulation.

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The work certificate did not specify whether the Petitioner's employment was full-time, and thus did not establish at least ten years of full-time experience as required by the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-24_01_B5203; source_row=30253
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice profession

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the Director's favorable finding on the license criterion.

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AAO did not disturb the Director's favorable finding on the license criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-24_01_B5203; source_row=30254
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

other

Proposed work falls within a designated statutory field

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that being a lawyer does not automatically bar extraordinary ability classification; what matters is whether the proposed work falls within a statutory field. The record demonstrated that the Petitioner's proposed employment was in the field of business, based on her stated basis for the petition, the authors of supporting letters, and press coverage of her work.

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AAO found that being a lawyer does not automatically bar extraordinary ability classification; what matters is whether the proposed work falls within a statutory field. The record demonstrated that the Petitioner's proposed employment was in the field of business, based on her stated basis for the petition, the authors of supporting letters, and press coverage of her work.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-24_01_B2101; source_row=30251
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalProfessor20 papers14 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination — sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's conclusion, finding that first authorship, modest citation counts, awards limited to trainees, letters offering only measured praise, superficial media coverage, and a post-filing-date NCCN citation collectively failed to establish that the Petitioner has sustained national or international acclaim or occupies the small percentage at the very top of the field.

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AAO affirmed the Director's conclusion, finding that first authorship, modest citation counts, awards limited to trainees, letters offering only measured praise, superficial media coverage, and a post-filing-date NCCN citation collectively failed to establish that the Petitioner has sustained national or international acclaim or occupies the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-10-21_01_B2203; source_row=30249
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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