AAO Decisions Explorer · Free
Published AAO appeal decisions
Search the decisions the Administrative Appeals Office has published, narrow them by visa, criterion, field and year, and read our summary of each one with a link to the official PDF.

Decisions in the library
6,586
6,586 classified
Visa types
3
Years covered
2005-2026
Latest decision
Aug 31, 2026
Filters
9 decisions
Outcomes in these results
- Dismissed
- Remanded
- Sustained
- EB-1ABiotech and pharmaApr 2026Dismissed
Research and development manager in personal care industry sought EB-1A. Met leading or critical role criterion but failed membership, original contributions, and scholarly articles criteria. AAO declined final merits analysis due to insufficient threshold evidence.
1 of 6 criteria metRead → - EB-1ABiotech and pharmaApr 2026Dismissed
CEO and inhaled drug delivery researcher claimed EB-1A extraordinary ability, satisfying five initial evidentiary criteria. AAO held totality of evidence insufficient for final merits determination; petitioner lacked sustained national acclaim and did not demonstrate career of acclaimed work placing him among field's very top.
5 of 11 criteria metRead → - O-1ABiotech and pharmaMar 2026Dismissed
Dismissed · 6 criteria reviewed2 of 6 criteria metRead → - EB-1ABiotech and pharmaMar 2026Dismissed
Dismissed · 4 criteria reviewed1 of 4 criteria metRead → - EB-1ABiotech and pharmaAug 2024Dismissed
Pharmaceutical microbiology production manager seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO found petitioner did not meet initial evidence requirements; failed to establish three alternate criteria. Awards lacked documented recognition for field excellence; published material insufficient; no sustained national or international acclaim demonstrated.
0 of 11 criteria metRead → - EB-1ABiotech and pharma2021Dismissed
Quality assurance associate in pharmaceutical industry sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Claimed four criteria; director found two met. AAO dismissed, holding petitioner failed to meet three of ten required criteria and lacks the sustained acclaim and top-tier recognition required.
2 of 6 criteria metRead → - EB-1ABiotech and pharmaDec 2020Dismissed
A director of program management in biomedical sciences sought EB-1A classification. He met three criteria: peer review, scholarly articles, and leading role. The AAO found the evidence insufficient to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement at the very top of the field, dismissing the appeal.
3 of 8 criteria metRead → - EB-1ABiotech and pharma2011Dismissed
A medical technology company petitioned for a senior scientist in nanotechnology and biomaterials. The beneficiary failed to demonstrate nationally or internationally recognized awards or sustained acclaim. The AAO found achievements not significantly above almost all others in the field at national or international level and dismissed the appeal.
0 of 2 criteria metRead → - EB-1ABiotech and pharma2005Dismissed
Scientist in cancer research self-petitioner sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO found petitioner met zero of criteria analyzed; while work was valuable, record lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim placing him at field's top.
0 of 5 criteria metRead →
