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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 15501–15510

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesPhysician

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

AAO declines to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed prong two, making further analysis unnecessary.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO declines to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed prong two, making further analysis unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-14_04_B5203; source_row=23006
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesPhysician

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO finds the proposed research has substantial merit because of its potential to lead to anti-cancer drugs, and national importance because dissemination through publications and conferences and the potential implications for the pharmaceutical industry and human health show broader prospective impact.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO finds the proposed research has substantial merit because of its potential to lead to anti-cancer drugs, and national importance because dissemination through publications and conferences and the potential implications for the pharmaceutical industry and human health show broader prospective impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-14_04_B5203; source_row=23004
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

What the decision said

AAO cannot reach a determination on ability to pay because the record lacks the 2017 financial documentation required by regulation. The most recent tax return covers 2016, which predates the March 2017 priority date. The matter is remanded for the Director to obtain the necessary 2017 evidence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO cannot reach a determination on ability to pay because the record lacks the 2017 financial documentation required by regulation. The most recent tax return covers 2016, which predates the March 2017 priority date. The matter is remanded for the Director to obtain the necessary 2017 evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-14_03_B5203; source_row=23003
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

evidentiary criteria at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A)-(F)

What the decision said

AAO remands so the Director can consider the previously submitted evidence under the six criteria, with specific direction to evaluate whether the Beneficiary's membership organization is a qualifying professional association and, if three criteria are met, to conduct a final merits analysis.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO remands so the Director can consider the previously submitted evidence under the six criteria, with specific direction to evaluate whether the Beneficiary's membership organization is a qualifying professional association and, if three criteria are met, to conduct a final merits analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-14_02_B5203; source_row=23002
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay combined proffered wages of all I-140 beneficiaries

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's list of 99 I-140 beneficiaries omitted proffered wages and wages paid, making it impossible to determine total wage obligations. Additionally, the only tax return in the record was for 2016, pre-dating the April 2017 priority date, and 2017 financial documentation was absent, precluding any ability-to-pay assessment for the relevant period.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner's list of 99 I-140 beneficiaries omitted proffered wages and wages paid, making it impossible to determine total wage obligations. Additionally, the only tax return in the record was for 2016, pre-dating the April 2017 priority date, and 2017 financial documentation was absent, precluding any ability-to-pay assessment for the relevant period.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-10_02_B5203; source_row=22995
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets educational requirements of the labor certification

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Beneficiary's U.S. master's degree in management information systems demonstrates that the Beneficiary exceeds the educational requirements of the labor certification, which required a bachelor's degree in computer science or management information systems.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO disagreed with the Director, finding that the Beneficiary's U.S. master's degree in management information systems demonstrates that the Beneficiary exceeds the educational requirements of the labor certification, which required a bachelor's degree in computer science or management information systems.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-10_01_B5203; source_row=22994
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Offered position requires an advanced degree professional

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Director's interpretation disregarded Part H.14 of the labor certification, which clearly summarizes that no less than a bachelor's degree and five years of experience is acceptable. Reading the ETA Form 9089 as a whole, and supported by the Petitioner's recruitment materials, the offered position requires a professional holding an advanced degree.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the Director's interpretation disregarded Part H.14 of the labor certification, which clearly summarizes that no less than a bachelor's degree and five years of experience is acceptable. Reading the ETA Form 9089 as a whole, and supported by the Petitioner's recruitment materials, the offered position requires a professional holding an advanced degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-10_03_B5203; source_row=22996
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the EIN on the Form I-140 and labor certification differed from the EIN on the submitted tax returns, making those returns insufficient to establish the Petitioner's ability to pay. The Petitioner's attempt to correct the EIN was contradicted by USCIS records showing multiple other petitions filed using the same disputed EIN.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the EIN on the Form I-140 and labor certification differed from the EIN on the submitted tax returns, making those returns insufficient to establish the Petitioner's ability to pay. The Petitioner's attempt to correct the EIN was contradicted by USCIS records showing multiple other petitions filed using the same disputed EIN. Additionally, because other I-140 petitions were filed on behalf of multiple beneficiaries, the Petitioner must demonstrate ability to pay the combined proffered wages of all applicable beneficiaries.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-10_03_B5203; source_row=22997
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

Leading or Critical Role for Organizations with Distinguished Reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the recommendation letters confirmed coaching experience but did not demonstrate a leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation. Personal training of individual athletes does not satisfy the requirement for an organizational role.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the recommendation letters confirmed coaching experience but did not demonstrate a leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation. Personal training of individual athletes does not satisfy the requirement for an organizational role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=22985
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

Published Material in Professional or Major Trade Publications or Other Major Media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the submitted materials either lacked required elements (title, date, author) or the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that the publications/media qualified as professional, major trade publications, or major media.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the submitted materials either lacked required elements (title, date, author) or the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that the publications/media qualified as professional, major trade publications, or major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-08-09_01_B2203; source_row=22984
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment