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 9901–9910

EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in qualifying associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

AΩA and ΣΞ acceptance letters were dated after the petition filing date and do not reflect judging by recognized national or international experts. ACS fellowship criteria relate to education, training, and ethical conduct rather than outstanding achievements; honorary fellowship is the higher level that might qualify, but the Petitioner only holds standard fellowship.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AΩA and ΣΞ acceptance letters were dated after the petition filing date and do not reflect judging by recognized national or international experts. ACS fellowship criteria relate to education, training, and ethical conduct rather than outstanding achievements; honorary fellowship is the higher level that might qualify, but the Petitioner only holds standard fellowship.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-22_01_B2203; source_row=29787
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not show that the transplantation program has a distinguished reputation in its own right. Described duties of patient care, teaching, and research appear routine for medical school faculty. The Faculty Senate role was evidenced only by a post-filing letter and was not listed on the CV at filing, so it could not be considered. The ASTS claim was abandoned on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not show that the transplantation program has a distinguished reputation in its own right. Described duties of patient care, teaching, and research appear routine for medical school faculty. The Faculty Senate role was evidenced only by a post-filing letter and was not listed on the CV at filing, so it could not be considered. The ASTS claim was abandoned on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-22_01_B2203; source_row=29791
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner conflated the importance of the industry with the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor. The letters submitted were either post-filing or too vague to establish broader national or global implications. The business plan lacked specifics about location and how employing 21–29 workers would have implications rising to national importance.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
The AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner conflated the importance of the industry with the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor. The letters submitted were either post-filing or too vague to establish broader national or global implications. The business plan lacked specifics about location and how employing 21–29 workers would have implications rising to national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-22_03_B5203; source_row=29800
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted a de novo review and found that the published materials largely focused on other performers, the award evidence was inconsistent and unreliable, earnings evidence lacked comparative context, reference letters were vague and unsupported by documentary evidence, and judging was a single instance involving non-professional students — none of which collectively established sustained national or international acclaim.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO conducted a de novo review and found that the published materials largely focused on other performers, the award evidence was inconsistent and unreliable, earnings evidence lacked comparative context, reference letters were vague and unsupported by documentary evidence, and judging was a single instance involving non-professional students — none of which collectively established sustained national or international acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-19_02_B2203; source_row=29785
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the display criterion based on his performances.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the display criterion based on his performances.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-19_02_B2203; source_row=29784
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the judging criterion based on his service as a judge at a drumming competition.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner met the judging criterion based on his service as a judge at a drumming competition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-19_02_B2203; source_row=29783
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the record supported substantial merit given evidence on obesity and wellness, but concluded that the proposed endeavor's prospective impact did not extend sufficiently beyond the company and its clients to reach national importance.…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
The AAO agreed that the record supported substantial merit given evidence on obesity and wellness, but concluded that the proposed endeavor's prospective impact did not extend sufficiently beyond the company and its clients to reach national importance. The job creation projections were unsupported by adequate evidence, the sales forecasts lacked explanation, and the Petitioner failed to show substantial positive economic effects for a region or the nation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-18_01_B5203; source_row=29779
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner holds a U.S. patent on a banana plant, which establishes originality, but she admitted the patent was not in use and provided no evidence of actual adoption or impact on other researchers or the industry. A potential contribution does not satisfy the plain-language requirement of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner holds a U.S. patent on a banana plant, which establishes originality, but she admitted the patent was not in use and provided no evidence of actual adoption or impact on other researchers or the industry. A potential contribution does not satisfy the plain-language requirement of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-16_01_B2203; source_row=29771
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

EB-2 underlying classification (advanced degree or exceptional ability)

What the decision said

AAO treated the underlying EB-2 classification issue as abandoned because the petitioner raised no arguments or evidence on appeal to challenge the director's finding.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO treated the underlying EB-2 classification issue as abandoned because the petitioner raised no arguments or evidence on appeal to challenge the director's finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-16_01_B5203; source_row=29775
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement

What the decision said

The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion on appeal, so AAO deemed it abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not contest the Director's finding on this criterion on appeal, so AAO deemed it abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-16_01_B2203; source_row=29770
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment