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 15061–15070

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets minimum experience requirements of the labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employer letter confirmed employment dates and Java/J2EE experience generally but did not establish that the Beneficiary used Java and J2EE for the required 36 months, and did not clarify the nature of other positions held at that employer.

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

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The employer letter confirmed employment dates and Java/J2EE experience generally but did not establish that the Beneficiary used Java and J2EE for the required 36 months, and did not clarify the nature of other positions held at that employer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=23507
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

Petitioner's ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Only one year's tax return was submitted, covering a fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, but there was no evidence for 2016-17 or 2017-18. Additionally, the Petitioner must also account for combined proffered wages owed under other petitions it had filed.

Why this is useful

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Only one year's tax return was submitted, covering a fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, but there was no evidence for 2016-17 or 2017-18. Additionally, the Petitioner must also account for combined proffered wages owed under other petitions it had filed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=23508
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner had not shown that her proposed endeavor would impact vulnerable populations at a level consistent with national importance, had not sufficiently described or documented plans for wide distribution, had not provided sufficient information about the number of individuals to be impacted, and had not shown that her financial forecasts demonstrated substantial positive economic effects on the regional o…

Why this is useful

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 the Petitioner had not shown that her proposed endeavor would impact vulnerable populations at a level consistent with national importance, had not sufficiently described or documented plans for wide distribution, had not provided sufficient information about the number of individuals to be impacted, and had not shown that her financial forecasts demonstrated substantial positive economic effects on the regional or national economy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-22_01_B5203; source_row=23503
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner had not met the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach prong two because the Petitioner had not met the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-22_01_B5203; source_row=23504
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner had not met the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO explicitly declined to reach prong three because the Petitioner had not met the first prong, rendering further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-22_01_B5203; source_row=23505
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the submitted articles were from professional or major trade publications or major media. The Wikipedia citation was unreliable and did not establish major medium status, and one article lacked an author.

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AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the submitted articles were from professional or major trade publications or major media. The Wikipedia citation was unreliable and did not establish major medium status, and one article lacked an author.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-18_01_B2203; source_row=23487
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the Director's finding because the Petitioner did not initially claim this criterion, and the three articles she submitted were published after the petition was filed. Eligibility must be established from the time of filing.

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 withdrew the Director's finding because the Petitioner did not initially claim this criterion, and the three articles she submitted were published after the petition was filed. Eligibility must be established from the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-18_01_B2203; source_row=23489
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although the evidence showed the festivals and awards were sanctioned by Chinese governmental entities, the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the garnered awards are nationally or internationally recognized for excellence in the field, nor that the field recognizes these contests as national or international awards for excellence.

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Although the evidence showed the festivals and awards were sanctioned by Chinese governmental entities, the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the garnered awards are nationally or internationally recognized for excellence in the field, nor that the field recognizes these contests as national or international awards for excellence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-18_01_B2203; source_row=23485
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering8 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that despite the Petitioner's citation rankings, licensing agreements, patent, research funding, and media coverage, none of these individually or collectively demonstrated that his work had already achieved major significance in the field. Letters of support lacked specific examples and were largely conclusory, and prospective or potential impacts do not satisfy this criterion.

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 despite the Petitioner's citation rankings, licensing agreements, patent, research funding, and media coverage, none of these individually or collectively demonstrated that his work had already achieved major significance in the field. Letters of support lacked specific examples and were largely conclusory, and prospective or potential impacts do not satisfy this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-18_04_B2203; source_row=23501
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Physics20 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although not required given the failure to meet three criteria, the AAO reviewed the totality of the record and found it insufficient to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the top of the field.

Why this is useful

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

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Although not required given the failure to meet three criteria, the AAO reviewed the totality of the record and found it insufficient to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-01-18_03_B2203; source_row=23498
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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