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 16311–16320

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

possession of U.S. bachelor's degree or single-source foreign equivalent degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes that even if the certificate is an official academic record, it is not a 'degree' from a college or university authorized under Indian law to confer degrees, and the three-year Indian bachelor's degree only equates to three years of U.S. university studies.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO concludes that even if the certificate is an official academic record, it is not a 'degree' from a college or university authorized under Indian law to confer degrees, and the three-year Indian bachelor's degree only equates to three years of U.S. university studies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-29_03_B5203; source_row=22112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

minimum experience in substantially different position

Why AAO was not persuaded

Multiple conflicting letters from the Petitioner's vice president—one describing the same duties as the offered position, another stating no duties overlapped, and a third claiming the Beneficiary had experience 'in the position offered'—created unresolved discrepancies.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Multiple conflicting letters from the Petitioner's vice president—one describing the same duties as the offered position, another stating no duties overlapped, and a third claiming the Beneficiary had experience 'in the position offered'—created unresolved discrepancies. Counsel's unsupported assertion of inadvertent error does not constitute evidence, and the organizational chart and missing percentage-of-time data further undermined the Petitioner's claims.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-29_02_B5203; source_row=22110
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO raised this issue sua sponte. The record lacked required annual reports, tax returns, or audited financial statements for 2015 and 2016, and contained no information to assess the Petitioner's ability to pay combined proffered wages across 101 other petitions filed after the priority date.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO raised this issue sua sponte. The record lacked required annual reports, tax returns, or audited financial statements for 2015 and 2016, and contained no information to assess the Petitioner's ability to pay combined proffered wages across 101 other petitions filed after the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-29_02_B5203; source_row=22111
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

Payments to the Beneficiary in 2016 ($66,510.57 through July 15) fell below the annual proffered wage range, and the CFO letter is insufficient given multiple other I-140 filings without information about combined proffered wages.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Payments to the Beneficiary in 2016 ($66,510.57 through July 15) fell below the annual proffered wage range, and the CFO letter is insufficient given multiple other I-140 filings without information about combined proffered wages.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-29_03_B5203; source_row=22113
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Net income and net current assets

Why AAO was not persuaded

For 2015, the Petitioner's net income was $30,010 and net current assets were -$99, insufficient to cover the $75,608 shortfall. For 2016, net income was $47,057 and net current assets were -$3,623, insufficient to cover the $50,890 shortfall.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
For 2015, the Petitioner's net income was $30,010 and net current assets were -$99, insufficient to cover the $75,608 shortfall. For 2016, net income was $47,057 and net current assets were -$3,623, insufficient to cover the $50,890 shortfall.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-29_01_B5203; source_row=22108
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Wages actually paid to beneficiary

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not employ the Beneficiary in 2015, and in 2016 paid only $24,718 of the $75,608 proffered wage, falling short in both years. Paying at the hourly rate equivalent to the proffered wage does not satisfy the continuing requirement dating back to the November 7, 2015 priority date.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The Petitioner did not employ the Beneficiary in 2015, and in 2016 paid only $24,718 of the $75,608 proffered wage, falling short in both years. Paying at the hourly rate equivalent to the proffered wage does not satisfy the continuing requirement dating back to the November 7, 2015 priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-29_01_B5203; source_row=22107
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Totality of business circumstances (Sonegawa)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Bank statements reflect funds on a given date rather than a sustained ability to pay. The Petitioner failed to submit financial history supporting claimed success since 2005, showed declining rather than growing revenue, did not claim extraordinary losses or expenses, and submitted no evidence of industry reputation such as client letters.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Bank statements reflect funds on a given date rather than a sustained ability to pay. The Petitioner failed to submit financial history supporting claimed success since 2005, showed declining rather than growing revenue, did not claim extraordinary losses or expenses, and submitted no evidence of industry reputation such as client letters.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-29_01_B5203; source_row=22109
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

five years post-baccalaureate experience equivalent to master's degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted a case-specific analysis and found that completing coursework in 1997 did not satisfy all substantive requirements for the Titulo, which also requires a thesis, social service period, and professional examination.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO conducted a case-specific analysis and found that completing coursework in 1997 did not satisfy all substantive requirements for the Titulo, which also requires a thesis, social service period, and professional examination. The Pasante documents do not establish degree conferral, and AACRAO EDGE materials—including the source cited by the Petitioner's own evaluator—confirm that a Pasante should not be treated as equivalent to a Titulo or U.S. bachelor's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-28_01_B5203; source_row=22104
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay the proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Director erred by failing to conduct a full Sonegawa analysis and by failing to address the totality of the Petitioner's circumstances and the other evidence submitted. The case was remanded for a new analysis considering 2016 evidence and the Sonegawa factors.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Director erred by failing to conduct a full Sonegawa analysis and by failing to address the totality of the Petitioner's circumstances and the other evidence submitted. The case was remanded for a new analysis considering 2016 evidence and the Sonegawa factors.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-28_02_B5203; source_row=22105
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets minimum educational requirements of labor certification

What the decision said

AAO noted the Beneficiary's degree is in applied mathematics, which may or may not satisfy the labor certification's requirement of information systems, computer science, or engineering. AAO reserved this question for the Director to resolve on remand.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO noted the Beneficiary's degree is in applied mathematics, which may or may not satisfy the labor certification's requirement of information systems, computer science, or engineering. AAO reserved this question for the Director to resolve on remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-11-28_02_B5203; source_row=22106
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment