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 14141–14150

NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary's degree in a field required by the labor certification

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that a preponderance of evidence establishes the Beneficiary's possession of a foreign equivalent degree in an acceptable field for the offered position and withdrew the Director's contrary conclusion.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that a preponderance of evidence establishes the Beneficiary's possession of a foreign equivalent degree in an acceptable field for the offered position and withdrew the Director's contrary conclusion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-17_01_B5203; source_row=24534
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

artistic display

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that because the Petitioner performed as an actor in theatrical settings, he established that he fulfills the artistic display criterion.

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The AAO found that because the Petitioner performed as an actor in theatrical settings, he established that he fulfills the artistic display criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-17_02_B2203; source_row=24539
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Physics83 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the articles were not about the Petitioner — he was never mentioned in some, merely listed as a contributing author in others, and quoted only once. The websites were not shown to be major media; evidence of global rankings was insufficient to establish major media status.

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

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AAO found the articles were not about the Petitioner — he was never mentioned in some, merely listed as a contributing author in others, and quoted only once. The websites were not shown to be major media; evidence of global rankings was insufficient to establish major media status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-15_01_B2203; source_row=24527
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Physics83 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that evidence of an h-index qualifying for advancement to full professor does not demonstrate original contributions of major significance. Previously submitted evidence (Google Scholar screenshots, symposium participation, Nature article) was already considered and not revisited.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that evidence of an h-index qualifying for advancement to full professor does not demonstrate original contributions of major significance. Previously submitted evidence (Google Scholar screenshots, symposium participation, Nature article) was already considered and not revisited. The appropriate analysis requires showing findings have been considered important at a level consistent with major significance in the overall field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-15_01_B2203; source_row=24529
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics83 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO had previously found in its appellate decision that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion, which was not at issue on this motion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO had previously found in its appellate decision that the Petitioner satisfied the scholarly articles criterion, which was not at issue on this motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-15_01_B2203; source_row=24530
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics83 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

On motion to reopen, the Petitioner submitted documentation from Computer Physics Communications, Physical Review Letters, Physical Review D, and Journal of High Energy Physics confirming he completed manuscript reviews, which AAO found sufficient to establish this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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On motion to reopen, the Petitioner submitted documentation from Computer Physics Communications, Physical Review Letters, Physical Review D, and Journal of High Energy Physics confirming he completed manuscript reviews, which AAO found sufficient to establish this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-15_01_B2203; source_row=24528
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

Considering new evidence regarding the president/sole shareholder's flexibility to forego compensation, AAO found the ability to pay the proffered wage in 2017 was demonstrated.

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Considering new evidence regarding the president/sole shareholder's flexibility to forego compensation, AAO found the ability to pay the proffered wage in 2017 was demonstrated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-10_01_B5203; source_row=24526
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Beneficiary holds U.S. advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The organization issuing the credentials is a professional body, not a degree-granting academic institution. Its examination certificate and associate membership certificate are not 'degrees.' The evaluations were given little weight because their supporting factual assertions were contradicted or unsupported by the record.…

Why this is useful

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

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The organization issuing the credentials is a professional body, not a degree-granting academic institution. Its examination certificate and associate membership certificate are not 'degrees.' The evaluations were given little weight because their supporting factual assertions were contradicted or unsupported by the record. The government of India's recognition of the credentials as 'at par with a degree' does not make them a degree. The H-1B three-for-one formula does not apply to immigrant petitions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-09_01_B5203; source_row=24524
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary completed drug test and background check required by labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification's special requirements at Part H.14 required passing a background check and pre-employment drug test. The record contained no evidence the Beneficiary completed these requirements.

Why this is useful

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

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The labor certification's special requirements at Part H.14 required passing a background check and pre-employment drug test. The record contained no evidence the Beneficiary completed these requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-09_01_B5203; source_row=24525
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets labor certification educational requirements

Why the evidence was persuasive

The labor certification at Part H.14 expressly allowed qualification via an associate membership examination deemed equivalent to a bachelor's degree by a qualified credential evaluator. The Beneficiary's associate membership certificate had been so evaluated, satisfying the labor certification's terms.

Why this is useful

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

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The labor certification at Part H.14 expressly allowed qualification via an associate membership examination deemed equivalent to a bachelor's degree by a qualified credential evaluator. The Beneficiary's associate membership certificate had been so evaluated, satisfying the labor certification's terms.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-09_01_B5203; source_row=24523
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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