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Degree level requirement (master's or foreign equivalent)
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found the four evaluations deficient because they lacked meaningful comparison of the Beneficiary's coursework to analogous U.S. degree programs and misapplied methodologies such as the Carnegie Unit. AAO relied on the current EDGE report, which equates the Belarusian diploma of higher education to a U.S.…
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AAO found the four evaluations deficient because they lacked meaningful comparison of the Beneficiary's coursework to analogous U.S. degree programs and misapplied methodologies such as the Carnegie Unit. AAO relied on the current EDGE report, which equates the Belarusian diploma of higher education to a U.S. bachelor's degree, and confirmed with the IESC that the consensus is that this credential is a first degree comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-19_05_B5203; source_row=22238 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Letters showed praise for quality of work on specific short-term projects but did not establish a principal role in the overall hierarchy of the organizations; no organizational chart was provided; letters did not show how the Petitioner's work contributed to the companies' overall success or standing.
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Letters showed praise for quality of work on specific short-term projects but did not establish a principal role in the overall hierarchy of the organizations; no organizational chart was provided; letters did not show how the Petitioner's work contributed to the companies' overall success or standing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-19_02_B2203; source_row=22229 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Beneficiary's possession of education required by labor certification (U.S. master's or foreign equivalent)
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found EDGE is a reliable, peer-reviewed source and that the three educational evaluations were unpersuasive because they failed to identify the documents reviewed, did not analyze the Beneficiary's specific coursework, and did not meaningfully compare it to an analogous U.S. program; the Carnegie Unit methodology used by one evaluator is inapplicable to higher education.
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AAO found EDGE is a reliable, peer-reviewed source and that the three educational evaluations were unpersuasive because they failed to identify the documents reviewed, did not analyze the Beneficiary's specific coursework, and did not meaningfully compare it to an analogous U.S. program; the Carnegie Unit methodology used by one evaluator is inapplicable to higher education.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-19_01_B5203; source_row=22222 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Electrical / Electronic Engineering
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Final merits
final merits determination
What the decision said
AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold requirement of at least three criteria, though AAO noted in advisory terms that the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.
Why this is useful
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AAO reserved the final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to satisfy the threshold requirement of at least three criteria, though AAO noted in advisory terms that the aggregate record would not support a finding of extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-19_01_B2203; source_row=22221 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Foreign degree equivalency to U.S. master's degree
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found the two expert evaluations to be deficient and therefore less credible: one improperly applied the Carnegie Unit (which does not apply to higher education), and the other failed to explain how credits were calculated or equate credits to a U.S. institution. The updated EDGE entry and confirmation from the IESC both indicate the Belarusian diploma of higher education is equivalent to a U.S.…
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO found the two expert evaluations to be deficient and therefore less credible: one improperly applied the Carnegie Unit (which does not apply to higher education), and the other failed to explain how credits were calculated or equate credits to a U.S. institution. The updated EDGE entry and confirmation from the IESC both indicate the Belarusian diploma of higher education is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, including when it follows five years of study and is referred to as a diploma of specialist.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-19_04_B5203; source_row=22235 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Beneficiary possesses minimum education required by labor certification
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found the submitted evaluations internally contradictory — two evaluators found the radiophysicist diploma equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree without experience, while two others found it equivalent to a master's degree. The updated EDGE database equates Belarusian diplomas of higher education (including five-year specialist diplomas) to U.S. bachelor's degrees.…
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO found the submitted evaluations internally contradictory — two evaluators found the radiophysicist diploma equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree without experience, while two others found it equivalent to a master's degree. The updated EDGE database equates Belarusian diplomas of higher education (including five-year specialist diplomas) to U.S. bachelor's degrees. The Petitioner failed to resolve these discrepancies, and no submitted evaluation concluded that the diploma alone equated to a master's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-19_03_B5203; source_row=22234 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
OtherManager
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
Why AAO was not persuaded
The wage comparison was to hairdressers/hairstylists/cosmetologists, but the Beneficiary's job as artistic director and master hair colorist involves greater responsibilities; petitioner did not establish an appropriate basis for comparison.
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The wage comparison was to hairdressers/hairstylists/cosmetologists, but the Beneficiary's job as artistic director and master hair colorist involves greater responsibilities; petitioner did not establish an appropriate basis for comparison.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-17_01_B2203; source_row=22214 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c