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 16461–16470

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage to all I-140 beneficiaries

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's fiscal year 2015 net income of $180,257 would have covered the proffered wage of $71,053 for this Beneficiary alone, but the Petitioner failed to provide information about over 125 other I-140 petitions, making it impossible to determine its combined wage obligations. Projected earnings, line of credit, and bank statements were each insufficient as alternative evidence.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner's fiscal year 2015 net income of $180,257 would have covered the proffered wage of $71,053 for this Beneficiary alone, but the Petitioner failed to provide information about over 125 other I-140 petitions, making it impossible to determine its combined wage obligations. Projected earnings, line of credit, and bank statements were each insufficient as alternative evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-25_01_B5203; source_row=21944
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 agreed Petitioner failed to establish ability to pay in 2012 by preponderance of the evidence based on wages paid, net income, or net current assets, but disagreed with the Director's use of proration and lack of totality analysis.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed Petitioner failed to establish ability to pay in 2012 by preponderance of the evidence based on wages paid, net income, or net current assets, but disagreed with the Director's use of proration and lack of totality analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-25_04_B5203; source_row=21957
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

five years of qualifying experience per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Two of the three experience letters lack the title and/or address of the author and a description of duties as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1), so the record does not establish five years of qualifying experience.

Why this is useful

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

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Two of the three experience letters lack the title and/or address of the author and a description of duties as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1), so the record does not establish five years of qualifying experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-25_04_B5203; source_row=21958
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary's five years of qualifying experience

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO held that this new ground could not support revocation because it was not raised in the NOIR, and in any event found that the record establishes the Beneficiary has the five years of experience performing the duties of the offered position as required by the labor certification.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO held that this new ground could not support revocation because it was not raised in the NOIR, and in any event found that the record establishes the Beneficiary has the five years of experience performing the duties of the offered position as required by the labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-25_03_B5203; source_row=21956
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Managerial capacity as a requirement for EB-2 advanced degree classification

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that neither the Act, the regulations, nor the labor certification require the Beneficiary to be employed in a managerial capacity for EB-2 advanced degree classification, and that the Director imposed a non-existent requirement.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that neither the Act, the regulations, nor the labor certification require the Beneficiary to be employed in a managerial capacity for EB-2 advanced degree classification, and that the Director imposed a non-existent requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-25_03_B5203; source_row=21954
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary's concurrent employment with another business

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director's conclusions about the Beneficiary's business ownership during the overlapping period to be ill-founded given the evidence submitted, and noted the Director failed to articulate how this uncertainty was material to the Beneficiary's qualifications for the offered position.

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 Director's conclusions about the Beneficiary's business ownership during the overlapping period to be ill-founded given the evidence submitted, and noted the Director failed to articulate how this uncertainty was material to the Beneficiary's qualifications for the offered position.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-25_03_B5203; source_row=21955
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded that the reference letters did not show the Petitioner originated the techniques he uses; that several letters contained near-identical language and two were unsigned, limiting probative value; that media coverage lacked complete certified translations; and that membership and awards were not shown to be distinguishing.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded that the reference letters did not show the Petitioner originated the techniques he uses; that several letters contained near-identical language and two were unsigned, limiting probative value; that media coverage lacked complete certified translations; and that membership and awards were not shown to be distinguishing. The record did not demonstrate a record of success, citation to his research, or interest from relevant parties sufficient to render him well positioned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-24_01_B5203; source_row=21938
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Bona fide intent to employ beneficiary at petition filing

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO held that pre-petition irregular employment does not establish lack of future intent to employ, as a petitioner need not actually employ a beneficiary before or during petition proceedings.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO held that pre-petition irregular employment does not establish lack of future intent to employ, as a petitioner need not actually employ a beneficiary before or during petition proceedings. The overall record—including regular employment from 2004 to 2006, the filing of the labor certification and petition, and the president's later refusal to re-sign a job offer once intent had dissipated—supported genuine intent at filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-24_02_B5203; source_row=21940
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

What the decision said

Because the second prong was not satisfied, AAO declined to reach the balancing analysis under the third prong.

Why this is useful

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

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Because the second prong was not satisfied, AAO declined to reach the balancing analysis under the third prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-24_01_B5203; source_row=21939
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found substantial merit and national importance as to the proposed endeavor of developing novel surgical/non-surgical spinal treatments, but found neither the clinical patient-care work nor the proposed U.S. hospital had been shown to have national importance.

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 substantial merit and national importance as to the proposed endeavor of developing novel surgical/non-surgical spinal treatments, but found neither the clinical patient-care work nor the proposed U.S. hospital had been shown to have national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-10-24_01_B5203; source_row=21937
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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