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.
Ability to pay combined proffered wages from priority date
Why AAO was not persuaded
The Petitioner did not submit any regulatory-required financial documentation (annual report, federal tax return, or audited financial statement) covering the 2017 priority date, either in response to the RFE or on appeal. The Sonegawa totality-of-circumstances factors also did not favor the Petitioner, as it showed no established growth, no outstanding reputation, and no evidence regarding replacement of a current employee.…
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The Petitioner did not submit any regulatory-required financial documentation (annual report, federal tax return, or audited financial statement) covering the 2017 priority date, either in response to the RFE or on appeal. The Sonegawa totality-of-circumstances factors also did not favor the Petitioner, as it showed no established growth, no outstanding reputation, and no evidence regarding replacement of a current employee. Additionally, the Petitioner must demonstrate ability to pay all relevant I-140 beneficiaries' combined proffered wages, and it failed to do so.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-08_02_B5203; source_row=24522 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
official academic record showing advanced degree or foreign equivalent
Why AAO was not persuaded
The submitted evidence — a degree certificate plus only the first two of four semesters of transcripts — does not constitute the complete official academic record required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A); the Director should request the missing transcripts on remand.
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The submitted evidence — a degree certificate plus only the first two of four semesters of transcripts — does not constitute the complete official academic record required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A); the Director should request the missing transcripts on remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-07_01_B5203; source_row=24511 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
ability to pay proffered wage from priority date onward
What the decision said
AAO withdraws the Director's denial because the priority date is in 2018, not 2017; the proper evidentiary year was not yet available, and the matter must be remanded for the Director to request the correct regulatory evidence.
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AAO withdraws the Director's denial because the priority date is in 2018, not 2017; the proper evidentiary year was not yet available, and the matter must be remanded for the Director to request the correct regulatory evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-07_01_B5203; source_row=24510 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Social Sciences
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial merit and national importance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the record did not adequately corroborate that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor would extend beyond her employers and their direct business partners to have broader implications at the national level for U.S. foreign trade, the film industry, U.S.-Iran relations, or U.S. economic welfare. The evidence of potential economic benefits was speculative and insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects.
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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
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AAO found that the record did not adequately corroborate that the Petitioner's proposed endeavor would extend beyond her employers and their direct business partners to have broader implications at the national level for U.S. foreign trade, the film industry, U.S.-Iran relations, or U.S. economic welfare. The evidence of potential economic benefits was speculative and insufficient to show substantial positive economic effects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-04_01_B5203; source_row=24507 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Experience requirement (five years as registered nurse supervisor)
Why AAO was not persuaded
The Beneficiary's roles as staff nurse and staff nurse 2 involved direct care duties without any supervisory responsibilities over other nurses, and thus do not satisfy the ETA 9089's requirement of five years of experience as a registered nurse supervisor. Experience in an alternate occupation is expressly not acceptable under section H.10.
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The Beneficiary's roles as staff nurse and staff nurse 2 involved direct care duties without any supervisory responsibilities over other nurses, and thus do not satisfy the ETA 9089's requirement of five years of experience as a registered nurse supervisor. Experience in an alternate occupation is expressly not acceptable under section H.10.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-03_01_B5203; source_row=24505 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
State RN license or NCLEX-RN passage (section H.14)
Why AAO was not persuaded
The license-pending status letter expired and there is no evidence the Beneficiary applied for licensure as directed, nor is there evidence her licensure in the relevant state would allow her to work as a registered nurse where she would be employed. The NCLEX-RN exam document did not identify the exam-taker and thus does not establish the Beneficiary passed the exam.
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The license-pending status letter expired and there is no evidence the Beneficiary applied for licensure as directed, nor is there evidence her licensure in the relevant state would allow her to work as a registered nurse where she would be employed. The NCLEX-RN exam document did not identify the exam-taker and thus does not establish the Beneficiary passed the exam.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-03_01_B5203; source_row=24506 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed with the Director that correspondence confirming the Petitioner served as a judge in beauty and talent competitions satisfies the judging criterion.
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AAO agreed with the Director that correspondence confirming the Petitioner served as a judge in beauty and talent competitions satisfies the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-03_01_B2203; source_row=24501 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media
What the decision said
AAO found the Director erred in concluding none of the submitted articles were about the Petitioner, identifying at least one ambebi.ge article that profiles the actress and discusses her acting roles. AAO remands for the Director to determine whether that article meets the remaining requirements of the published material criterion, also considering newly submitted comparative website traffic evidence.
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AAO found the Director erred in concluding none of the submitted articles were about the Petitioner, identifying at least one ambebi.ge article that profiles the actress and discusses her acting roles. AAO remands for the Director to determine whether that article meets the remaining requirements of the published material criterion, also considering newly submitted comparative website traffic evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-03_01_B2203; source_row=24502 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Why the evidence was persuasive
AAO agreed with the Director that evidence in the record establishes the Petitioner's membership in an artists' union whose bylaws indicate that the organization requires outstanding achievements as determined by its own experts.
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AAO agreed with the Director that evidence in the record establishes the Petitioner's membership in an artists' union whose bylaws indicate that the organization requires outstanding achievements as determined by its own experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-03_01_B2203; source_row=24500 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance in the field
What the decision said
The Director entirely failed to address the original contributions criterion despite the Petitioner raising it in her RFE response. AAO remands for the Director to analyze the evidence submitted under that criterion.
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The Director entirely failed to address the original contributions criterion despite the Petitioner raising it in her RFE response. AAO remands for the Director to analyze the evidence submitted under that criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-10-03_01_B2203; source_row=24503 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c