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 16761–16770

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Good-faith recruitment for offered position

Why AAO was not persuaded

The recruitment documentation lacked copies of applicants' resumes and did not identify who interviewed the candidates, failing to establish good-faith recruitment or that the Beneficiary lacked influence over hiring decisions.

Why this is useful

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

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The recruitment documentation lacked copies of applicants' resumes and did not identify who interviewed the candidates, failing to establish good-faith recruitment or that the Beneficiary lacked influence over hiring decisions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-25_01_B5203; source_row=21629
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to demonstrate, through an official academic record contemporaneous with events, that all substantive degree requirements were completed and the degree approved prior to April 12, 2010.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the Petitioner failed to demonstrate, through an official academic record contemporaneous with events, that all substantive degree requirements were completed and the degree approved prior to April 12, 2010. The deputy registrar letter, written nine years later in response to the Beneficiary's request, was not issued in the normal course of business and did not show all degree requirements were completed; the statement of marks alone showed only that the Beneficiary passed final examinations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-24_01_B5203; source_row=21624
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Beneficiary did not have five years of qualifying post-baccalaureate experience, but clarified that an 'official academic record' is not limited to a diploma; the Petitioner nevertheless failed to submit any official academic record showing that the degree was approved before October 13, 2009.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the Beneficiary did not have five years of qualifying post-baccalaureate experience, but clarified that an 'official academic record' is not limited to a diploma; the Petitioner nevertheless failed to submit any official academic record showing that the degree was approved before October 13, 2009.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-24_02_B5203; source_row=21625
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

performing in a leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record lacks information on the hierarchy of the Petitioner's department so a leading role cannot be established. With respect to a critical role, the Petitioner has not shown how his reports have been utilized or implemented, the supervisor's letter is unsigned, and a collaborative report does not mention the Petitioner.

Why this is useful

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

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The record lacks information on the hierarchy of the Petitioner's department so a leading role cannot be established. With respect to a critical role, the Petitioner has not shown how his reports have been utilized or implemented, the supervisor's letter is unsigned, and a collaborative report does not mention the Petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-21_01_B2203; source_row=21622
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

One association is open to anyone interested and does not require outstanding achievements. Another (a general academic honor society) admits the top 15% of students based solely on academic achievements and is not an association in the field, nor is admission judged by national or international experts in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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One association is open to anyone interested and does not require outstanding achievements. Another (a general academic honor society) admits the top 15% of students based solely on academic achievements and is not an association in the field, nor is admission judged by national or international experts in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-21_01_B2203; source_row=21618
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The supervisor's letter is unsigned and does not offer examples of the Petitioner's influence beyond the department where he works, and is therefore insufficient to confirm impact in the field consistent with a contribution of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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The supervisor's letter is unsigned and does not offer examples of the Petitioner's influence beyond the department where he works, and is therefore insufficient to confirm impact in the field consistent with a contribution of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-21_01_B2203; source_row=21620
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

The totality of the Petitioner's evidence—one manuscript review, one minimally-cited article, academic memberships, university website mentions, a single pay stub, and an unsigned supervisor letter—does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that he is among the small percentage at the top of his field.

Why this is useful

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

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The totality of the Petitioner's evidence—one manuscript review, one minimally-cited article, academic memberships, university website mentions, a single pay stub, and an unsigned supervisor letter—does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that he is among the small percentage at the top of his field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-21_01_B2203; source_row=21623
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner reviewed a manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal, satisfying this criterion.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the Petitioner reviewed a manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-21_01_B2203; source_row=21619
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner authored a scholarly article that appeared in a qualifying publication, satisfying this criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner authored a scholarly article that appeared in a qualifying publication, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-21_01_B2203; source_row=21621
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary experience requirement per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment affidavits and the Beneficiary's own resume consistently describe her prior work as preschool/toddler teaching, not elementary school teaching. Even accepting counsel's broader interpretation that elementary education experience (not just first grade) would qualify, the Beneficiary's preschool experience does not fall within that category.

Why this is useful

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

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The employment affidavits and the Beneficiary's own resume consistently describe her prior work as preschool/toddler teaching, not elementary school teaching. Even accepting counsel's broader interpretation that elementary education experience (not just first grade) would qualify, the Beneficiary's preschool experience does not fall within that category.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-07-20_01_B5203; source_row=21617
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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