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 16841–16850

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage to beneficiary and all other I-140 beneficiaries

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes the Petitioner's chart still fails to accurately identify all beneficiaries with pending or approved I-140s as of the priority date; USCIS records show additional approved petitions and mischaracterized statuses, and no proffered/actual wage evidence exists for many of these beneficiaries, making the ability-to-pay analysis impossible.

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AAO concludes the Petitioner's chart still fails to accurately identify all beneficiaries with pending or approved I-140s as of the priority date; USCIS records show additional approved petitions and mischaracterized statuses, and no proffered/actual wage evidence exists for many of these beneficiaries, making the ability-to-pay analysis impossible.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-29_01_B5203; source_row=21536
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

other

foreign equivalent of U.S. master's in computer science or engineering

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds the credentials evaluation deficient because it did not analyze the curriculum against U.S. master's-in-computer-science requirements and identified no comparable U.S. program; the issuing institution itself offers a separate M.Tech in computer science distinct from the MCA, and EDGE confirms the MCA is not equivalent to a computer science master's.

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AAO finds the credentials evaluation deficient because it did not analyze the curriculum against U.S. master's-in-computer-science requirements and identified no comparable U.S. program; the issuing institution itself offers a separate M.Tech in computer science distinct from the MCA, and EDGE confirms the MCA is not equivalent to a computer science master's.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-29_01_B5203; source_row=21535
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

AAO found the Petitioner did not provide documentary evidence showing that the relevant federation and swim teams required outstanding achievements of their members as judged by recognized national or international experts.

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AAO found the Petitioner did not provide documentary evidence showing that the relevant federation and swim teams required outstanding achievements of their members as judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_02_B2203; source_row=21525
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

leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner did not show how his roles in the national federation or national team were leading or critical, as he failed to differentiate his role from other members or show impact on the organizations' standing. Although AAO found he performed a leading or critical role on his university swim team, that team's distinguished reputation was not established, failing the criterion.

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AAO found the Petitioner did not show how his roles in the national federation or national team were leading or critical, as he failed to differentiate his role from other members or show impact on the organizations' standing. Although AAO found he performed a leading or critical role on his university swim team, that team's distinguished reputation was not established, failing the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_02_B2203; source_row=21529
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner listed this criterion on appeal but provided no further argument or documentation, and submitted no qualifying evidence of display at artistic exhibitions or showcases.

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The Petitioner listed this criterion on appeal but provided no further argument or documentation, and submitted no qualifying evidence of display at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_02_B2203; source_row=21528
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

Most submitted articles were about swim meets rather than the Petitioner himself; for articles that were about the Petitioner, neither the publication names/dates nor evidence of major media status were provided. No submitted publication was demonstrated to be a form of major media.

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Most submitted articles were about swim meets rather than the Petitioner himself; for articles that were about the Petitioner, neither the publication names/dates nor evidence of major media status were provided. No submitted publication was demonstrated to be a form of major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_02_B2203; source_row=21526
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

AAO found that coaching athletes who succeeded at the state or junior level, and being one of the first (not the originator) to use a swimming technique in one country without evidence of broader adoption at the top level, did not rise to original contributions of major significance. The letters were largely conclusory and uncorroborated.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that coaching athletes who succeeded at the state or junior level, and being one of the first (not the originator) to use a swimming technique in one country without evidence of broader adoption at the top level, did not rise to original contributions of major significance. The letters were largely conclusory and uncorroborated.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_02_B2203; source_row=21527
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner submitted no information explaining why a labor certification would be impractical, why the U.S. would benefit despite available U.S. workers, or why urgency warranted forgoing the labor certification process.

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 submitted no information explaining why a labor certification would be impractical, why the U.S. would benefit despite available U.S. workers, or why urgency warranted forgoing the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_02_B5203; source_row=21533
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalResearch Scientist

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner did not provide sufficient details about the size, location, staffing, target population, or research topics of the proposed clinic to establish its prospective impact.

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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The Petitioner did not provide sufficient details about the size, location, staffing, target population, or research topics of the proposed clinic to establish its prospective impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_02_B5203; source_row=21531
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that reviewing the totality of the evidence, including judging, contributions, citations, and instrument development role, the Petitioner had not demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim or that he was among the small percentage at the very top of his field. Expert letters described promising work but not work of major significance or commensurate with extraordinary ability recognition.

Why this is useful

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AAO found that reviewing the totality of the evidence, including judging, contributions, citations, and instrument development role, the Petitioner had not demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim or that he was among the small percentage at the very top of his field. Expert letters described promising work but not work of major significance or commensurate with extraordinary ability recognition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-28_01_B2203; source_row=21522
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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