AAO Case Studies
Browse aao case studies, with original AAO sources and related reading.
The AAO accepted original contributions and a critical role based on student results, but dismissed the appeal because the petitioner did not establish three criteria as a fencing coach.
A 2005 approval accepted media coverage, high modeling pay, and film success while rejecting reliance on O-1 approval as proof of EB-1A eligibility.
Read the corrected case study for APR052005_06B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
The AAO accepted broadcast journalism as comparable artistic-display evidence and upheld judging, but awards and role evidence left the appeal short of three categories.
Read the corrected case study for Apr102009_01B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
Peer review, textbook chapters, scholarly articles, and corroborated medical expertise supported this pediatric endocrinologist’s successful EB-1A appeal.
Read the corrected case study for APR122005_03B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
Read this corrected case study for APR132005_05B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.
A checked visual-artist record accepted exhibition evidence but found membership standards, qualifying media, role reputation, and high pay unproven.
Read the corrected case study for Apr132009_04B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
Read the corrected case study for Apr142006_02B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
The AAO accepted artistic display but rejected the violist’s awards claim and other discussed criteria; it dismissed the appeal.
Published material and high pay were accepted, but ordinary sports reporting did not establish the additional categories on this record. The appeal was dismissed.
The AAO accepted documented judging, a shared training syllabus, a critical coaching role, and final merits. Read the April 20, 2016 source decision.
The 2020 chef appeal failed on media, artistic display, and pay evidence; leading role was accepted. The competition record did not show an artistic showcase.
Read this corrected case study for APR232025_01B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.
The AAO dismissed the karate athlete’s appeal and made a formal finding of fraud and willful material misrepresentation after finding altered award and certification documents.
Read the corrected case study for APR252016_01B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
Read this corrected case study for APR262005_06B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.
A live interview supplied the horse breeder's third accepted criterion. Read how the AAO separately evaluated judging, breeding contributions, and final merits.
APR272005_03B2203 distinguished a bestseller certificate from a different book prize and found award significance, membership standards, and literary impact insufficient.
The 2005 AAO decision accepted diplomatic leadership but found other evidence and continued-work plans insufficient. Read its findings and original source pages.
A checked historical poetry case found award, membership, contribution, authorship, and sales evidence insufficient; it did not impose an award-age cutoff.
The AAO accepted awards, membership, and media, then found sustained acclaim from a long competitive record and national-team service. The appeal was sustained.
Read this corrected case study for Apr292009_05B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.
Read the corrected case study for Apr292009_06B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
The current page is unrelated image-prompt text. The AAO found judging but dismissed after other criteria and final-merits findings failed.
Read the corrected case study for APR302020_01B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
The AAO rejected the chef’s award, media, leadership, and salary evidence and compared his record with nationally recognized chefs.
The AAO rejected an EB-1A fencing instructor’s claims based on athletes’ awards, referee activity, coaching contributions, and leadership.
Source-reviewed summary of this AAO decision, the evidence assessed, and the stated outcome.
The AAO withdrew awards credit and separately found insufficient final-merits support for an entrepreneur and financier.
Media and high salary were accepted, but the AAO found the major-award claim and three additional criteria insufficient.
Read the source-backed explanation of AUG102020_02B2203, the AAO's actual findings, and corrections to the previous article.
AUG122005_02B2203 dismissed a promoter’s appeal after distinguishing his own achievements from company membership, performer publicity, and successful client tours.
Read the corrected case study for AUG122005_06B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
The AAO rejected a soccer coach’s team-award and local-tournament evidence, found no qualifying judging, and questioned her salary comparison and plans to keep coaching.
New interviews and repeated category arguments did not overcome the prior decision. The AAO dismissed both reopening and reconsideration.
Read the source-backed explanation of Aug162006_03B2203, the AAO's actual findings, and corrections to the previous article.
Read this corrected case study for AUG182005_01B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.
The 2021 cinematographer appeal succeeded after awards, media, and artistic display met initial criteria and the full career record established final merits.
Read the corrected case study for AUG222018_01B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
Read this corrected case study for AUG242018_01B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.
The AAO accepted judging, articles, and critical role, then found documented clinical-research influence and continuing recognition supported favorable final merits.
Read the corrected case study for Aug252009_05B2203, with the original disposition, attributed source passages, and links to the USCIS decision.
The AAO added awards to accepted judging and authorship, then dismissed on final merits. Read the August 29, 2025 decision and its record-specific reasoning.
Read this corrected case study for AUG312005_12B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.
Read this corrected case study for Dec042009_02B2203, with the original disposition, source passages, and USCIS PDF.