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 14071–14080

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States

What the decision said

AAO does not reach the third prong, remanding the NIW analysis for the Director to apply the Dhanasar framework after the proposed endeavor is clarified.

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AAO does not reach the third prong, remanding the NIW analysis for the Director to apply the Dhanasar framework after the proposed endeavor is clarified.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-05_01_B5203; source_row=24617
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

exceptional ability

What the decision said

AAO remands for the Director to consider whether the Petitioner satisfies the exceptional-ability criteria, after providing him an opportunity to address them.

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AAO remands for the Director to consider whether the Petitioner satisfies the exceptional-ability criteria, after providing him an opportunity to address them.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-11-05_01_B5203; source_row=24614
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering14 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacked corroborative documentation that the cash awards were for scientific excellence or were nationally/internationally recognized. The Governor's scholarship was for indigenous students in education, culture, and sport — not for excellence in electrical engineering. The other scholarship also lacked evidence of national or international recognition in the field.

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The record lacked corroborative documentation that the cash awards were for scientific excellence or were nationally/internationally recognized. The Governor's scholarship was for indigenous students in education, culture, and sport — not for excellence in electrical engineering. The other scholarship also lacked evidence of national or international recognition in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B2203; source_row=24600
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering14 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner failed to establish her total salary or remuneration. The bank records did not identify her as the account holder or the source of payments and reflected only irregular deposits. No comparative salary data for similarly situated electrical engineers was provided.

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Petitioner failed to establish her total salary or remuneration. The bank records did not identify her as the account holder or the source of payments and reflected only irregular deposits. No comparative salary data for similarly situated electrical engineers was provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B2203; source_row=24602
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Whether Director was required to issue RFE before denial

Why AAO was not persuaded

The USCIS memo the Petitioner cited also notes that RFEs need not be issued when there is clear evidence of ineligibility. Here, EDGE independently confirmed the South African degree equates to less than a U.S. bachelor's degree, providing clear evidence the Beneficiary did not qualify. Furthermore, the Petitioner suffered no prejudice as it had the opportunity to submit evidence and argument on appeal.

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The USCIS memo the Petitioner cited also notes that RFEs need not be issued when there is clear evidence of ineligibility. Here, EDGE independently confirmed the South African degree equates to less than a U.S. bachelor's degree, providing clear evidence the Beneficiary did not qualify. Furthermore, the Petitioner suffered no prejudice as it had the opportunity to submit evidence and argument on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B5203; source_row=24606
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Possession of U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The independent evaluation submitted by the Petitioner itself found the South African degree equivalent to only three years of U.S. post-secondary studies, falling short of the four-year U.S. bachelor's degree standard. A foreign educational equivalent cannot be constructed through a combination of education and experience under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).

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The independent evaluation submitted by the Petitioner itself found the South African degree equivalent to only three years of U.S. post-secondary studies, falling short of the four-year U.S. bachelor's degree standard. A foreign educational equivalent cannot be constructed through a combination of education and experience under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B5203; source_row=24604
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Degree in a required field of study per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification required a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or computer science with no alternate fields accepted, but the credential evaluation found the Beneficiary's degree equivalent to a bachelor's in MIS. The Petitioner did not address this ground on appeal.

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The labor certification required a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or computer science with no alternate fields accepted, but the credential evaluation found the Beneficiary's degree equivalent to a bachelor's in MIS. The Petitioner did not address this ground on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B5203; source_row=24605
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Five years of qualifying experience in offered position per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The letters submitted were from subsidiaries in Japan and Australia but do not establish those entities employed the Beneficiary, and they cover only short periods totaling far less than five years. The record also lacks independent evidence of proficiency with the specific technologies listed in the labor certification.

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The letters submitted were from subsidiaries in Japan and Australia but do not establish those entities employed the Beneficiary, and they cover only short periods totaling far less than five years. The record also lacks independent evidence of proficiency with the specific technologies listed in the labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B5203; source_row=24607
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering14 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a full final merits analysis because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold number of criteria, but noted in passing that the record would be insufficient even under a final merits review.

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AAO declined to conduct a full final merits analysis because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold number of criteria, but noted in passing that the record would be insufficient even under a final merits review.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B2203; source_row=24603
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering14 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that while most of the 14 articles lacked identification of any qualifying publication, one article was published in a State Technical University Scientific Journal, qualifying as a professional publication. This was sufficient to meet the criterion.

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AAO found that while most of the 14 articles lacked identification of any qualifying publication, one article was published in a State Technical University Scientific Journal, qualifying as a professional publication. This was sufficient to meet the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-31_01_B2203; source_row=24601
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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