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 16891–16900

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

Minimum experience requirement per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO independently found — beyond the Director's analysis — that the Beneficiary did not establish the required 12 months of qualifying experience. The only corroborating employer letter covered approximately four months of experience, and the remaining experience was supported only by uncorroborated self-serving affidavits from the Beneficiary.…

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The AAO independently found — beyond the Director's analysis — that the Beneficiary did not establish the required 12 months of qualifying experience. The only corroborating employer letter covered approximately four months of experience, and the remaining experience was supported only by uncorroborated self-serving affidavits from the Beneficiary. The Petitioner also did not establish that the required employer letters were unavailable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-16_01_B5203; source_row=21490
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

five years of post-baccalaureate progressive experience / degree conferral date

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded that the provisional certificate, issued July 29, 2004, constitutes the official academic record evidencing degree conferral because it certified the Beneficiary had passed all final examinations and was found qualified for the degree. Counting from that date, the Beneficiary accumulated over five years of qualifying progressive experience before the September 4, 2015 priority date.…

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AAO concluded that the provisional certificate, issued July 29, 2004, constitutes the official academic record evidencing degree conferral because it certified the Beneficiary had passed all final examinations and was found qualified for the degree. Counting from that date, the Beneficiary accumulated over five years of qualifying progressive experience before the September 4, 2015 priority date. AACRAO EDGE confirmed that Indian provisional degree certificates are comparable to U.S. transcripts with degree statements certifying completion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-15_01_B5203; source_row=21481
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why AAO was not persuaded

Without additional information or evidence in response to the RFE, AAO found the Petitioner had not established that he is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor.

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Without additional information or evidence in response to the RFE, AAO found the Petitioner had not established that he is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-14_02_B5203; source_row=21479
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that, on the existing record and without an RFE response, the Petitioner had not shown that, on balance, a waiver would benefit the United States.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that, on the existing record and without an RFE response, the Petitioner had not shown that, on balance, a waiver would benefit the United States.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-14_02_B5203; source_row=21480
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record did not show that the benefits of his planning and design work would extend beyond his firm and its projects to a level demonstrating 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 the record did not show that the benefits of his planning and design work would extend beyond his firm and its projects to a level demonstrating national importance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-14_02_B5203; source_row=21478
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the Petitioner's work has substantial merit but failed to demonstrate national importance because its impact did not extend beyond his single employer and its SAP projects did not stand to affect the broader IT field, petroleum industry, or U.S. economy.

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Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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The AAO found the Petitioner's work has substantial merit but failed to demonstrate national importance because its impact did not extend beyond his single employer and its SAP projects did not stand to affect the broader IT field, petroleum industry, or U.S. economy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-14_01_B5203; source_row=21475
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that his contributions outweigh the inherent benefits of the labor certification process, that there is an urgent national interest in his proposed work, or that his contributions would benefit the nation even if other qualified U.S. workers were available.

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 AAO found the Petitioner failed to demonstrate that his contributions outweigh the inherent benefits of the labor certification process, that there is an urgent national interest in his proposed work, or that his contributions would benefit the nation even if other qualified U.S. workers were available.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-14_01_B5203; source_row=21477
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found the Petitioner's demonstrated past experience as a SAP project manager, including leading significant milestones and implementing improvements at his employer, showed he is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found the Petitioner's demonstrated past experience as a SAP project manager, including leading significant milestones and implementing improvements at his employer, showed he is well positioned to advance his proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-14_01_B5203; source_row=21476
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other25 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership

Why AAO was not persuaded

As of the date of the decision, the Petitioner had not provided evidence of membership in a qualifying association, and eligibility must be established from the time of filing through adjudication.

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As of the date of the decision, the Petitioner had not provided evidence of membership in a qualifying association, and eligibility must be established from the time of filing through adjudication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-13_01_B2203; source_row=21464
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other25 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

Citation counts were modest and articles were used only as background references; conference proceedings had minimal citations; patents demonstrate originality but not major significance; recommendation letters spoke largely in terms of future potential rather than demonstrated impact; and letters were primarily conclusory.

Why this is useful

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

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Citation counts were modest and articles were used only as background references; conference proceedings had minimal citations; patents demonstrate originality but not major significance; recommendation letters spoke largely in terms of future potential rather than demonstrated impact; and letters were primarily conclusory.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-06-13_01_B2203; source_row=21467
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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