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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 9741–9750

EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the sales manager's letter described promotional work but did not explain how the Petitioner's role was of significant importance to the organization's activities. The managing director's vague statement about rising sales was insufficient to show a reliable correlation. The Petitioner also failed to establish how and why prominent clients chose his studio, so distinguished reputation was not proven.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the sales manager's letter described promotional work but did not explain how the Petitioner's role was of significant importance to the organization's activities. The managing director's vague statement about rising sales was insufficient to show a reliable correlation. The Petitioner also failed to establish how and why prominent clients chose his studio, so distinguished reputation was not proven.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-15_01_B2203; source_row=30009
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 explicitly declined to conduct a final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the three-criteria threshold at step one, but noted in advisory dicta that the aggregate record does not show the required acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO explicitly declined to conduct a final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the three-criteria threshold at step one, but noted in advisory dicta that the aggregate record does not show the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-15_01_B2203; source_row=30011
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions

What the decision said

AAO deemed this issue waived because the Petitioner asserted Director error without identifying any basis for the assertion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO deemed this issue waived because the Petitioner asserted Director error without identifying any basis for the assertion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-15_01_B5203; source_row=30014
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Petitioner submitted a Diplom Spetsialista in accounting from a university in Belarus, which AAO found satisfies this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner submitted a Diplom Spetsialista in accounting from a university in Belarus, which AAO found satisfies this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-15_01_B5203; source_row=30012
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice the profession or certification

What the decision said

AAO deemed this issue waived because the Petitioner asserted on appeal that USCIS should have found qualification via comparable evidence but failed to identify or discuss the specific evidence supporting the claim.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO deemed this issue waived because the Petitioner asserted on appeal that USCIS should have found qualification via comparable evidence but failed to identify or discuss the specific evidence supporting the claim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-15_01_B5203; source_row=30013
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why AAO was not persuaded

Individual campaigns and projects are not divisions or departments of an organization or establishment; the Petitioner's contracted roles as a subcontractor on specific projects do not establish that his roles were leading or critical for any organization or a department or division thereof. The connection to major corporations was indirect, as the Petitioner was a subcontractor to advertising agencies.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Individual campaigns and projects are not divisions or departments of an organization or establishment; the Petitioner's contracted roles as a subcontractor on specific projects do not establish that his roles were leading or critical for any organization or a department or division thereof. The connection to major corporations was indirect, as the Petitioner was a subcontractor to advertising agencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-14_03_B2203; source_row=30000
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The finalist nomination did not result in receipt of a prize or award, did not occur before the petition's filing date, and therefore cannot establish eligibility. The Silver Award was given to the employer/agency, not the Petitioner personally; the credit list on the website is not itself an award, and the award category (cinematography) was not shown to be the Petitioner's field of endeavor.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The finalist nomination did not result in receipt of a prize or award, did not occur before the petition's filing date, and therefore cannot establish eligibility. The Silver Award was given to the employer/agency, not the Petitioner personally; the credit list on the website is not itself an award, and the award category (cinematography) was not shown to be the Petitioner's field of endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-14_03_B2203; source_row=29997
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the letters from the Utah academy did not show the Petitioner's role as a volunteer referee for three one-day tournaments was of significant importance to the organization's activities, and that the evidence was insufficient to establish the organization had a distinguished reputation.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the letters from the Utah academy did not show the Petitioner's role as a volunteer referee for three one-day tournaments was of significant importance to the organization's activities, and that the evidence was insufficient to establish the organization had a distinguished reputation. Similarly, the Brazilian academy's reputation was only supported by local media coverage, insufficient to establish a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-14_01_B2203; source_row=29986
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 that the IBJJF black belt certificate submitted at filing was not registered with or recognized by IBJJF at the time of filing (the IBJJF-issued diploma was not issued until over a year after filing), and that the stated requirements for initial black belt membership do not involve a process by which one must be judged as having outstanding achievements by recognized national or international experts.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the IBJJF black belt certificate submitted at filing was not registered with or recognized by IBJJF at the time of filing (the IBJJF-issued diploma was not issued until over a year after filing), and that the stated requirements for initial black belt membership do not involve a process by which one must be judged as having outstanding achievements by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-14_01_B2203; source_row=29983
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

five years post-baccalaureate progressive experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters did not qualify as employer letters under the regulation and neither addressed full-time status; the credential evaluator relied only on a diploma and resume rather than employment documentation; and there were material discrepancies between the business partner's letter and other documents regarding employment dates and concurrent positions that were unresolved.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the letters did not qualify as employer letters under the regulation and neither addressed full-time status; the credential evaluator relied only on a diploma and resume rather than employment documentation; and there were material discrepancies between the business partner's letter and other documents regarding employment dates and concurrent positions that were unresolved.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-09-14_01_B5203; source_row=29988
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment