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 16141–16150

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner served as an adjudicator at events and thus met this criterion.

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AAO agreed with the Director that the Petitioner served as an adjudicator at events and thus met this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-26_02_B2203; source_row=22297
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the record sufficiently demonstrated the Petitioner played a critical role for a dance school, based on newspaper articles referencing her as head coach and choreographer, a letter from the school's founder, and governmental proclamations discussing the school's reputation and the Petitioner's contributions.

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AAO found the record sufficiently demonstrated the Petitioner played a critical role for a dance school, based on newspaper articles referencing her as head coach and choreographer, a letter from the school's founder, and governmental proclamations discussing the school's reputation and the Petitioner's contributions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-26_02_B2203; source_row=22299
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 the Petitioner failed to submit the required annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements for 2015 or 2016. The available documents—a 2014 tax return, a W-2 showing payment below the proffered wage, and 2016 paychecks—were insufficient to establish ability to pay the $84,906 proffered wage from the priority date onward.

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AAO found the Petitioner failed to submit the required annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements for 2015 or 2016. The available documents—a 2014 tax return, a W-2 showing payment below the proffered wage, and 2016 paychecks—were insufficient to establish ability to pay the $84,906 proffered wage from the priority date onward.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-26_02_B5203; source_row=22302
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Labor certification supports EB-2 advanced degree classification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the H.14 language—particularly 'any suitable combination of education, training or experience' defined as 'substantial compatibility with stated academic level and job experience requirements'—permits less than an advanced degree, and that routing H.4-B, H.7-A, and H.10-B to H.14 for details made it impossible to identify separate primary and alternate requirements.…

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AAO agreed that the H.14 language—particularly 'any suitable combination of education, training or experience' defined as 'substantial compatibility with stated academic level and job experience requirements'—permits less than an advanced degree, and that routing H.4-B, H.7-A, and H.10-B to H.14 for details made it impossible to identify separate primary and alternate requirements. The Petitioner's reliance on Matter of Agma Systems was misplaced because the issue was whether the additional language lowered minimum requirements, not whether Kellogg language should have been included.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-26_02_B5203; source_row=22301
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacked required financial documentation for 2016 (the priority date year), and the Petitioner did not demonstrate ability to pay the combined proffered wages across at least 11 other pending or subsequently filed petitions.

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The record lacked required financial documentation for 2016 (the priority date year), and the Petitioner did not demonstrate ability to pay the combined proffered wages across at least 11 other pending or subsequently filed petitions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-26_01_B5203; source_row=22293
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

five years of post-baccalaureate experience by priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director's conclusion. While AAO's own precedent in Matter of O-A- allows pre-diploma experience to count when a provisional certificate or equivalent evidence establishes degree completion, the Petitioner here provided no such evidence and did not explain the nearly nine-year gap between the claimed 2003 completion and the 2012 diploma issuance.

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AAO agreed with the Director's conclusion. While AAO's own precedent in Matter of O-A- allows pre-diploma experience to count when a provisional certificate or equivalent evidence establishes degree completion, the Petitioner here provided no such evidence and did not explain the nearly nine-year gap between the claimed 2003 completion and the 2012 diploma issuance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-26_01_B5203; source_row=22292
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not show that performing in one show out of 12 touring productions constituted a leading or critical role for the overall organization. Letters confirmed contributions to specific shows but did not establish influence over the organization's overall reputation or success.

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The Petitioner did not show that performing in one show out of 12 touring productions constituted a leading or critical role for the overall organization. Letters confirmed contributions to specific shows but did not establish influence over the organization's overall reputation or success.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-25_02_B2203; source_row=22275
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

Most submitted articles and screenshots were about the productions rather than about the Petitioner himself. Website screenshots that were about the Petitioner lacked evidence establishing the sites as major media. Television segment screenshots lacked required transcripts/recordings and did not include title, date, and author.

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Most submitted articles and screenshots were about the productions rather than about the Petitioner himself. Website screenshots that were about the Petitioner lacked evidence establishing the sites as major media. Television segment screenshots lacked required transcripts/recordings and did not include title, date, and author.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-25_02_B2203; source_row=22273
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The W-2 comparators were too limited and specific; the letter attested the Petitioner 'can' command high salary rather than demonstrating he actually does; evidence showing top 10% at his employer did not establish standing in the broader field; and DOL wage data for broad categories did not represent an appropriate comparator group.

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The W-2 comparators were too limited and specific; the letter attested the Petitioner 'can' command high salary rather than demonstrating he actually does; evidence showing top 10% at his employer did not establish standing in the broader field; and DOL wage data for broad categories did not represent an appropriate comparator group.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-25_02_B2203; source_row=22276
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

one-time major internationally recognized award

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record insufficient to support the claim of a major internationally recognized award because, while the awards are recognized in Canada, the Petitioner did not demonstrate they are recognized internationally.

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AAO found the record insufficient to support the claim of a major internationally recognized award because, while the awards are recognized in Canada, the Petitioner did not demonstrate they are recognized internationally.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-25_03_B2203; source_row=22278
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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