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.
Retained earnings are cumulative and duplicative of net income figures; adding them to net income or net current assets double-counts prior years' profits. Retained earnings do not necessarily remain available for spending as companies often reinvest them. The Petitioner did not demonstrate that any retained earnings remained available to pay the proffered wage.…
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Retained earnings are cumulative and duplicative of net income figures; adding them to net income or net current assets double-counts prior years' profits. Retained earnings do not necessarily remain available for spending as companies often reinvest them. The Petitioner did not demonstrate that any retained earnings remained available to pay the proffered wage. For 2015, the tax returns reflect a negative retained earnings figure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-26_03_B5203; source_row=22510 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
ability to pay combined proffered wages of multiple petitions
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO identifies that USCIS records show 25 additional pending or later-filed petitions, and instructs that any future filings must address combined-wage ability to pay.
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AAO identifies that USCIS records show 25 additional pending or later-filed petitions, and instructs that any future filings must address combined-wage ability to pay.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-26_02_B5203; source_row=22507 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
continuing ability to pay proffered wage from priority date
Why AAO was not persuaded
The record lacks the regulation's prescribed forms of evidence (annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements) covering 2015 onward.
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The record lacks the regulation's prescribed forms of evidence (annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements) covering 2015 onward.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-26_01_B5203; source_row=22505 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
offered position requires a professional with an advanced degree
Why AAO was not persuaded
Per O*NET, the occupation (51-4111) is in Job Zone Three; only 11% of workers hold a bachelor's degree or higher equivalent classification, and the DOL describes the occupation as requiring vocational training, on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
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Per O*NET, the occupation (51-4111) is in Job Zone Three; only 11% of workers hold a bachelor's degree or higher equivalent classification, and the DOL describes the occupation as requiring vocational training, on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-26_01_B5203; source_row=22504 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO found that the new evidence did not establish that the Petitioner's specific proposed work has national importance. Documents about the broader steel industry did not speak to the specific endeavor she proposes, and the new letter from her graduate advisor illustrated only past research accomplishment without detailing the capacity in which she proposes to conduct future research or consulting.…
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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 new evidence did not establish that the Petitioner's specific proposed work has national importance. Documents about the broader steel industry did not speak to the specific endeavor she proposes, and the new letter from her graduate advisor illustrated only past research accomplishment without detailing the capacity in which she proposes to conduct future research or consulting. The Petitioner's own affidavit similarly lacked sufficient explanation of how she intends to carry out the research or how it fits with her engineering duties.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-22_01_B5203; source_row=22500 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO noted that even if the Petitioner had demonstrated she would primarily be engaged in metallurgy research with broader implications, she had not established she would be well positioned to advance such a research endeavor under prong 2. The motion to reopen did not present sufficient evidence to overcome that finding.
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Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
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AAO noted that even if the Petitioner had demonstrated she would primarily be engaged in metallurgy research with broader implications, she had not established she would be well positioned to advance such a research endeavor under prong 2. The motion to reopen did not present sufficient evidence to overcome that finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-22_01_B5203; source_row=22501 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Materials Science
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
on balance, beneficial to waive job offer requirement
What the decision said
AAO explicitly declined to reach the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under prong 1, making further discussion of the balancing factors 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 the third prong because the Petitioner failed to establish national importance under prong 1, making further discussion of the balancing factors unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-22_01_B5203; source_row=22502 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that most of the coverage was about the project rather than about the Petitioner, that a screenshot lacked required date and author, and that neither the archleague.org website nor the community paper qualified as a professional or major trade publication or major medium.
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AAO found that most of the coverage was about the project rather than about the Petitioner, that a screenshot lacked required date and author, and that neither the archleague.org website nor the community paper qualified as a professional or major trade publication or major medium.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=22495 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established
Case facts
Business / ManagementManager
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Leading / critical role
leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that while the Petitioner performed in a critical role for the project, he failed to document that the organizations involved had a distinguished reputation.
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AAO found that while the Petitioner performed in a critical role for the project, he failed to document that the organizations involved had a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=22497 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established
Case facts
Business / ManagementManager
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance in the field
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the book and reference letters failed to show the Petitioner's contributions were of major significance to the field at large, as letters were largely conclusory and did not identify specific contributions or their impact on the broader field.
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 the book and reference letters failed to show the Petitioner's contributions were of major significance to the field at large, as letters were largely conclusory and did not identify specific contributions or their impact on the broader field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-03-19_01_B2203; source_row=22496 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c