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 14401–14410

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay combined proffered wages of multiple petitions

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2018 net current assets of $309,120 appear sufficient for the individual proffered wage, but USCIS records indicate at least four additional petitions beyond those the Director inquired about, whose combined proffered wages must also be demonstrated. The Director failed to request information on these additional petitions, necessitating remand.

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

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The 2018 net current assets of $309,120 appear sufficient for the individual proffered wage, but USCIS records indicate at least four additional petitions beyond those the Director inquired about, whose combined proffered wages must also be demonstrated. The Director failed to request information on these additional petitions, necessitating remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-30_01_B5203; source_row=24256
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO noted that a full final merits determination was not required given the failure at step 1, but reviewed the record in the aggregate and found it did not establish sustained acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the top of the field.

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AAO noted that a full final merits determination was not required given the failure at step 1, but reviewed the record in the aggregate and found it did not establish sustained acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-24_01_B2203; source_row=24248
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner's comparison of the Beneficiary's salary to molecular biologists and biological scientists was inappropriate because her position was senior scientist; salary comparisons must be to those performing similar services.…

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AAO found the Petitioner's comparison of the Beneficiary's salary to molecular biologists and biological scientists was inappropriate because her position was senior scientist; salary comparisons must be to those performing similar services. The salarylist.com data for senior scientists showed the average was $86,781 and 'high' was $250,000, meaning the Beneficiary's $108,000 salary did not place her at the high end of the spectrum for other senior scientists.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-24_01_B2203; source_row=24247
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the recommendation letters speculated about potential future impact rather than demonstrating already-established major significance; patent citations were not shown to be commensurate with contributions of major significance; licensing/commercial marketing does not by itself show major significance; and evidence of impact on the overall field beyond the employer was lacking.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the recommendation letters speculated about potential future impact rather than demonstrating already-established major significance; patent citations were not shown to be commensurate with contributions of major significance; licensing/commercial marketing does not by itself show major significance; and evidence of impact on the overall field beyond the employer was lacking.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-24_01_B2203; source_row=24244
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner fulfilled the scholarly articles criterion, noting the Beneficiary authored approximately six scholarly articles in professional publications.

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 agreed with the Director that the Petitioner fulfilled the scholarly articles criterion, noting the Beneficiary authored approximately six scholarly articles in professional publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-24_01_B2203; source_row=24245
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner fulfilled the leading or critical role criterion, finding that evidence including press releases, promotional material, and independent clinical studies demonstrated the Beneficiary's critical role in developing the molecular diagnostic test.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner fulfilled the leading or critical role criterion, finding that evidence including press releases, promotional material, and independent clinical studies demonstrated the Beneficiary's critical role in developing the molecular diagnostic test.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-24_01_B2203; source_row=24246
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics15 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that letters from colleagues attested to the Petitioner's engaging teaching methods but did not demonstrate that her role as a professor was of significant importance to the outcome of the organization's activities to constitute a critical role.

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The AAO found that letters from colleagues attested to the Petitioner's engaging teaching methods but did not demonstrate that her role as a professor was of significant importance to the outcome of the organization's activities to constitute a critical role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-23_01_B2203; source_row=24238
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics15 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed with the Director that neither the AMS nor MAA require outstanding achievements for membership. The record also lacked evidence that the Math Alliance executive board position or the fellowship require outstanding achievements.

Why this is useful

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The AAO agreed with the Director that neither the AMS nor MAA require outstanding achievements for membership. The record also lacked evidence that the Math Alliance executive board position or the fellowship require outstanding achievements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-23_01_B2203; source_row=24234
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics15 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the Petitioner did not submit evidence that the awards are nationally or internationally recognized, and the record did not establish that they were given for excellence in the field. Teaching-related and pedagogical awards do not satisfy the criterion, which requires excellence in the field of mathematics.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found that the Petitioner did not submit evidence that the awards are nationally or internationally recognized, and the record did not establish that they were given for excellence in the field. Teaching-related and pedagogical awards do not satisfy the criterion, which requires excellence in the field of mathematics.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-23_01_B2203; source_row=24233
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics15 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the additional letters focused on mentoring, presentations, and grants rather than demonstrating impact on the field. Citation count and publications alone do not establish major significance, and much of the foreign-language documentation lacked certified translations.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the additional letters focused on mentoring, presentations, and grants rather than demonstrating impact on the field. Citation count and publications alone do not establish major significance, and much of the foreign-language documentation lacked certified translations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-07-23_01_B2203; source_row=24236
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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