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 16671–16680

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record as of the petition's approval did not establish the Petitioner's ability to pay the combined proffered wages of all pending/approved petitions, including at least 10 other petitions that remained pending or approved as of the priority date.

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The record as of the petition's approval did not establish the Petitioner's ability to pay the combined proffered wages of all pending/approved petitions, including at least 10 other petitions that remained pending or approved as of the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-18_02_B5203; source_row=21729
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Bona fide job opportunity

Why AAO was not persuaded

Multiple Modular Container factors—including familial relationship between the Beneficiary and the sole shareholder, co-habitation, the Beneficiary's role as vice president and director, and his shareholder status—cast doubt on the bona fides of the job opportunity and were not addressed by the prior NOIR or revocation decision.

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Multiple Modular Container factors—including familial relationship between the Beneficiary and the sole shareholder, co-habitation, the Beneficiary's role as vice president and director, and his shareholder status—cast doubt on the bona fides of the job opportunity and were not addressed by the prior NOIR or revocation decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-18_02_B5203; source_row=21728
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination – sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim. Evidence was largely confined to 1999–2004, awards lacked national or international recognition, a single published article did not constitute a career of acclaimed work, and pending projects could not be considered for present eligibility.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim. Evidence was largely confined to 1999–2004, awards lacked national or international recognition, a single published article did not constitute a career of acclaimed work, and pending projects could not be considered for present eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-17_01_B2203; source_row=21721
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

participation as a judge of the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated how his work on the hiring committee was indicative of his standing in the field, noting the lack of detail on committee duties, selection process, and the temporal gap since 2003.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated how his work on the hiring committee was indicative of his standing in the field, noting the lack of detail on committee duties, selection process, and the temporal gap since 2003.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-17_01_B2203; source_row=21717
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 for distinguished organizations or establishments

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the criterion was met but noted the record does not show how the role placed the Petitioner in the small percentage at the top of the field or reflected sustained acclaim, especially since he resigned from the role in 2003.

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AAO agreed the criterion was met but noted the record does not show how the role placed the Petitioner in the small percentage at the top of the field or reflected sustained acclaim, especially since he resigned from the role in 2003.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-17_01_B2203; source_row=21720
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or major media

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the scholarly articles criterion was met based on the Petitioner's authored scholarly article and two book chapters.

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AAO agreed the scholarly articles criterion was met based on the Petitioner's authored scholarly article and two book chapters.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-17_01_B2203; source_row=21719
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated these projects have been published, cited, utilized, or garnered national or international acclaim; future potential accomplishments cannot satisfy present eligibility requirements.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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AAO found the Petitioner had not demonstrated these projects have been published, cited, utilized, or garnered national or international acclaim; future potential accomplishments cannot satisfy present eligibility requirements.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-17_01_B2203; source_row=21718
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Petitioner met the membership criterion based on his selection as a fellow with a professional engineering organization, though it noted the distinction was insufficient to establish him as among the small percentage at the top of the field.

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AAO found the Petitioner met the membership criterion based on his selection as a fellow with a professional engineering organization, though it noted the distinction was insufficient to establish him as among the small percentage at the top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-17_01_B2203; source_row=21715
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not submit any of the three types of evidence required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(2) for its own entity. Bank statements alone cannot establish ability to pay, and the assets of affiliated companies cannot substitute because those entities have no legal obligation to pay the wage.…

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The Petitioner did not submit any of the three types of evidence required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(2) for its own entity. Bank statements alone cannot establish ability to pay, and the assets of affiliated companies cannot substitute because those entities have no legal obligation to pay the wage. Numerous unresolved contradictions in the corporate ownership evidence further undermined the claimed corporate relationships, and projected future growth cannot substitute for demonstrated present ability to pay.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-16_01_B5203; source_row=21714
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Labor certification requires bachelor's degree plus five years of experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification specifies only a bachelor's degree and 36 months of experience, which is less than the required bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience for advanced degree professional classification. AAO also declined to treat the petition as one for professional classification, as material changes cannot be made on appeal.

Why this is useful

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

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The labor certification specifies only a bachelor's degree and 36 months of experience, which is less than the required bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience for advanced degree professional classification. AAO also declined to treat the petition as one for professional classification, as material changes cannot be made on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-08-15_02_B5203; source_row=21710
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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