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 16231–16240

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Net income and net current assets

Why AAO was not persuaded

The audited financial statements for 2016-17 reflected negative net income and negative net current assets. The submitted 2016 tax return likewise showed over $6 million in losses. The Director had actually considered both the missing tax return and the audited financial statements, contrary to the Petitioner's characterization.

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The audited financial statements for 2016-17 reflected negative net income and negative net current assets. The submitted 2016 tax return likewise showed over $6 million in losses. The Director had actually considered both the missing tax return and the audited financial statements, contrary to the Petitioner's characterization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-03_01_B5203; source_row=22195
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Sonegawa totality of circumstances

Why AAO was not persuaded

Unlike in Sonegawa, the Petitioner has conducted business for less than five years, lacks a history of profits, and did not establish uncharacteristic expenses, an outstanding industry reputation, or that the Beneficiary would replace a current employee. Additionally, the Petitioner must demonstrate ability to pay combined proffered wages for multiple beneficiaries.

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Unlike in Sonegawa, the Petitioner has conducted business for less than five years, lacks a history of profits, and did not establish uncharacteristic expenses, an outstanding industry reputation, or that the Beneficiary would replace a current employee. Additionally, the Petitioner must demonstrate ability to pay combined proffered wages for multiple beneficiaries.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-03_01_B5203; source_row=22196
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay combined proffered wages of multiple approved petitions

Why AAO was not persuaded

USCIS records show the Petitioner filed three petitions for other beneficiaries that remained approved after this petition's priority date. A petitioner must demonstrate ability to pay the combined proffered wages of all such petitions.

Why this is useful

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USCIS records show the Petitioner filed three petitions for other beneficiaries that remained approved after this petition's priority date. A petitioner must demonstrate ability to pay the combined proffered wages of all such petitions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-03_01_B5203; source_row=22197
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree professional qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacked the academic credentials evaluation required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A) to establish that any of the foreign degrees are equivalent to a U.S. master's or doctorate, and the U.S. program was incomplete.

Why this is useful

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The record lacked the academic credentials evaluation required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A) to establish that any of the foreign degrees are equivalent to a U.S. master's or doctorate, and the U.S. program was incomplete.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-02_01_B5203; source_row=22190
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner offered no evidence on whether a labor certification would be impractical, whether the U.S. would benefit even if qualified workers exist, or whether urgency warrants foregoing the labor certification process; further discussion was unnecessary given the prong 2 failure.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner offered no evidence on whether a labor certification would be impractical, whether the U.S. would benefit even if qualified workers exist, or whether urgency warrants foregoing the labor certification process; further discussion was unnecessary given the prong 2 failure.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-02_01_B5203; source_row=22193
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

Support letters attest to respect from peers but do not explain the Petitioner's specific contributions, the influence of her work, or interest from relevant parties; her authored and self-published works lack documentation of significance, implementation, or reception.

Why this is useful

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

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Support letters attest to respect from peers but do not explain the Petitioner's specific contributions, the influence of her work, or interest from relevant parties; her authored and self-published works lack documentation of significance, implementation, or reception.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-02_01_B5203; source_row=22192
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life SciencesManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the proposed integrative cancer research and biomedical device development have both substantial merit and national importance based on articles documenting the need for alternative cancer treatments and the broader implications of such research, while limiting the analysis to the research (not the CEO role or medical facility plans).

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 proposed integrative cancer research and biomedical device development have both substantial merit and national importance based on articles documenting the need for alternative cancer treatments and the broader implications of such research, while limiting the analysis to the research (not the CEO role or medical facility plans).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2018-01-02_01_B5203; source_row=22191
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Continuing ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although the Petitioner's net income for 2013–2015 appeared sufficient to cover the difference between wages paid and the proffered wage, the Petitioner had multiple pending I-140 petitions and was required to demonstrate combined ability to pay for all of them.…

Why this is useful

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Although the Petitioner's net income for 2013–2015 appeared sufficient to cover the difference between wages paid and the proffered wage, the Petitioner had multiple pending I-140 petitions and was required to demonstrate combined ability to pay for all of them. Its RFE response was incomplete—omitting petitions that were denied, revoked, withdrawn, or filed before 2013—making it impossible to accurately assess the Petitioner's total wage burden. The Petitioner's 2017 payment and totality-of-circumstances arguments were also rejected.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-28_01_B5203; source_row=22189
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not provide an organizational chart or documentation differentiating her from other faculty, did not show her course instruction contributed to the college's success or standing in a substantial way, and did not sufficiently demonstrate the college has a distinguished reputation relative to other institutions.

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The Petitioner did not provide an organizational chart or documentation differentiating her from other faculty, did not show her course instruction contributed to the college's success or standing in a substantial way, and did not sufficiently demonstrate the college has a distinguished reputation relative to other institutions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-22_02_B2203; source_row=22186
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's annualized salary of $64,863 is substantially below the maximum step pay at her own college and is limited to faculty at that college, so it does not show a high salary relative to others in the field. AAO noted the Director's typographical error but found the underlying analysis sound.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner's annualized salary of $64,863 is substantially below the maximum step pay at her own college and is limited to faculty at that college, so it does not show a high salary relative to others in the field. AAO noted the Director's typographical error but found the underlying analysis sound.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-12-22_02_B2203; source_row=22187
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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