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 12561–12570

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

bachelor's degree plus five years progressive post-baccalaureate experience equivalency

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Brazilian Bacharel em Administracao is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's in business administration, but concluded the Beneficiary fell short of the five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience needed to constitute the equivalent of a master's degree.

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AAO agreed the Brazilian Bacharel em Administracao is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's in business administration, but concluded the Beneficiary fell short of the five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience needed to constitute the equivalent of a master's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_05_B5203; source_row=26385
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherSoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

other

Five years of qualifying experience meeting labor certification requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found deficiencies in the documentation for all seven prior employers: conflicting job titles without explanation, employment letters lacking specific duty descriptions as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1), unverified authorship credentials, and letters suggesting independent contractor status.…

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The AAO found deficiencies in the documentation for all seven prior employers: conflicting job titles without explanation, employment letters lacking specific duty descriptions as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1), unverified authorship credentials, and letters suggesting independent contractor status. Though the AAO disagreed with the Director's use of 'missing skills' as a per-employer ground for denial, it independently concluded that the Beneficiary did not establish five years of qualifying experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_01_B5203; source_row=26378
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary's qualifying employment experience

What the decision said

AAO identified an inconsistency: the labor certification states the Beneficiary's qualifying experience was gained in Virginia, but the experience letter bears a letterhead with an India address and does not mention Virginia. AAO instructed the Director to require the Petitioner to resolve this inconsistency on remand with independent, objective evidence.

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AAO identified an inconsistency: the labor certification states the Beneficiary's qualifying experience was gained in Virginia, but the experience letter bears a letterhead with an India address and does not mention Virginia. AAO instructed the Director to require the Petitioner to resolve this inconsistency on remand with independent, objective evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_06_B5203; source_row=26387
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

five years of qualifying post-baccalaureate experience under labor certification alternate requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted a de novo review of the Expatriation Contract submitted on appeal and concluded its provisions — including assignment of supervision to the Petitioner's Senior Purchasing Manager, payment of salary by the Petitioner from March 1, 2015, and the express designation of the Brazilian employment agreement as 'dormant' — show the Petitioner became the Beneficiary's employer in 2015.…

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AAO conducted a de novo review of the Expatriation Contract submitted on appeal and concluded its provisions — including assignment of supervision to the Petitioner's Senior Purchasing Manager, payment of salary by the Petitioner from March 1, 2015, and the express designation of the Brazilian employment agreement as 'dormant' — show the Petitioner became the Beneficiary's employer in 2015. The Beneficiary therefore had only about 2.5 years of qualifying experience, not five.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_05_B5203; source_row=26384
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

proper notice of filing of labor certification

What the decision said

AAO reserves the notice issue because the ability-to-pay deficiency is dispositive.

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AAO reserves the notice issue because the ability-to-pay deficiency is dispositive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_02_B5203; source_row=26380
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay the proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO rejects the new wage evidence as conflicting with prior sworn statements on the labor certification and Form G-325A and as not constituting 'new facts.' The shareholder's claimed $25,000 forbearance is unsupported by evidence of personal expenses and, even if accepted, insufficient.…

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AAO rejects the new wage evidence as conflicting with prior sworn statements on the labor certification and Form G-325A and as not constituting 'new facts.' The shareholder's claimed $25,000 forbearance is unsupported by evidence of personal expenses and, even if accepted, insufficient. The asserted uncharacteristic expenses are recurring in nature and do not parallel Sonegawa's moving-related expenses, and the Petitioner failed to show a post-2016 rebound or to submit 2017-2019 financial documentation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_02_B5203; source_row=26379
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although not addressed by the Director, AAO found the record deficient: the Petitioner provided a CFO letter but no 2019 financial documents, the 2016–2017 audited statements are outdated, and the Petitioner must also account for wage obligations to other I-140 beneficiaries. AAO directed the Director to request additional evidence on remand.

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Although not addressed by the Director, AAO found the record deficient: the Petitioner provided a CFO letter but no 2019 financial documents, the 2016–2017 audited statements are outdated, and the Petitioner must also account for wage obligations to other I-140 beneficiaries. AAO directed the Director to request additional evidence on remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_04_B5203; source_row=26383
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets educational requirement of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director's decision deficient because he failed to explain why the submitted evidence—including two letters and the Beneficiary's transcripts—was insufficient, and did not address relevant coursework or the graduate thesis. AAO remanded rather than deciding the merits itself.

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AAO found the Director's decision deficient because he failed to explain why the submitted evidence—including two letters and the Beneficiary's transcripts—was insufficient, and did not address relevant coursework or the graduate thesis. AAO remanded rather than deciding the merits itself.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-10-01_04_B5203; source_row=26382
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

beneficiary holds advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Beneficiary holds only a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in nursing and approximately 45 months of experience, which is insufficient to establish qualification as an advanced degree professional under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).

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The Beneficiary holds only a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in nursing and approximately 45 months of experience, which is insufficient to establish qualification as an advanced degree professional under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-09-30_01_B5203; source_row=26377
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets labor certification experience requirement

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Beneficiary's combined qualifying experience as documented by the experience letter totaled only approximately 45 months, which fell short of the 60 months required by the labor certification as of the priority date.

Why this is useful

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The Beneficiary's combined qualifying experience as documented by the experience letter totaled only approximately 45 months, which fell short of the 60 months required by the labor certification as of the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2020-09-30_01_B5203; source_row=26376
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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