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 17121–17130

NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AISoftware Engineer

Issue evaluated

other

realistic bona fide job offer at certified worksite

What the decision said

AAO did not resolve the issue but identified additional evidentiary concerns from the site visit and remanded for the Director to seek further documentation regarding onsite workforce capacity.

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AAO did not resolve the issue but identified additional evidentiary concerns from the site visit and remanded for the Director to seek further documentation regarding onsite workforce capacity.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-29_02_B5203; source_row=21232
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets minimum educational requirements of the labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification required a master's degree and expressly excluded any alternate combination of education and experience at H.8. The credential evaluations confirmed only a bachelor's degree equivalent; no evaluator concluded she held a master's degree based on education alone.…

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The labor certification required a master's degree and expressly excluded any alternate combination of education and experience at H.8. The credential evaluations confirmed only a bachelor's degree equivalent; no evaluator concluded she held a master's degree based on education alone. The regulatory bachelor's-plus-five-years equivalency cannot override the labor certification's own terms, and accepting the appeal argument would constitute an impermissible material change to the petition.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-29_04_B5203; source_row=21237
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that the Petitioner's past experience as a petroleum engineer, including her role in developing drilling planning guidelines, her involvement with drilling safety assurance programs, her work on offshore projects, and her graduate research, rendered her well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor of improving efficiency and enhancing safety standards in drilling and completions operations.

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The AAO found that the Petitioner's past experience as a petroleum engineer, including her role in developing drilling planning guidelines, her involvement with drilling safety assurance programs, her work on offshore projects, and her graduate research, rendered her well positioned to advance her proposed endeavor of improving efficiency and enhancing safety standards in drilling and completions operations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-29_01_B5203; source_row=21229
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

incorrect application of law or policy

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner's asserted errors—reliance on Kazarian for analytical structure, a translation footnote, alleged non-objectivity, treating labor certification as proof of rare skill, dismissal of kosher specialization as comparable evidence, and the requirement of contributions to the industry or field—were each rejected on the merits.

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Petitioner's asserted errors—reliance on Kazarian for analytical structure, a translation footnote, alleged non-objectivity, treating labor certification as proof of rare skill, dismissal of kosher specialization as comparable evidence, and the requirement of contributions to the industry or field—were each rejected on the merits.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-29_03_B5203; source_row=21236
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

new facts supported by documentary evidence

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner reasserted prior arguments without new affidavits or evidence.

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Petitioner reasserted prior arguments without new affidavits or evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-29_03_B5203; source_row=21235
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherResearcherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

12 months of experience in the job offered (substantially comparable analysis under 20 C.F.R. § 656.17(h))

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed the Director's conclusion. The Petitioner's inconsistent statements were unexplained, the duty-list letter lacked a percentage-of-time breakdown necessary under § 656.17(h), and in any event the labor certification did not allow experience in an alternate occupation, so the experience could not qualify even if the positions were deemed non-comparable.

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AAO affirmed the Director's conclusion. The Petitioner's inconsistent statements were unexplained, the duty-list letter lacked a percentage-of-time breakdown necessary under § 656.17(h), and in any event the labor certification did not allow experience in an alternate occupation, so the experience could not qualify even if the positions were deemed non-comparable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-28_02_B5203; source_row=21225
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

intent to employ beneficiary per terms of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner's explanations were inconsistent with the labor certification's described duties and unsupported by evidence; the Beneficiary's affiliations with two other Illinois businesses remained unrebutted.

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Petitioner's explanations were inconsistent with the labor certification's described duties and unsupported by evidence; the Beneficiary's affiliations with two other Illinois businesses remained unrebutted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-28_01_B5203; source_row=21224
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date onward

Why the evidence was persuasive

On a prorated basis, the Beneficiary's wages plus net current assets exceeded the prorated 2013 wage; 2015 net current assets also covered the wage.

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On a prorated basis, the Beneficiary's wages plus net current assets exceeded the prorated 2013 wage; 2015 net current assets also covered the wage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-28_01_B5203; source_row=21222
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

bona fide job opportunity clearly open to U.S. workers

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found multiple Modular Container factors present: co-founder, 50% owner, one of three employees, involved in management, influenced hiring (since he was the only employee with the expertise to evaluate applicants), and inseparable from the business that depends on his recipes.

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AAO found multiple Modular Container factors present: co-founder, 50% owner, one of three employees, involved in management, influenced hiring (since he was the only employee with the expertise to evaluate applicants), and inseparable from the business that depends on his recipes.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-28_01_B5203; source_row=21223
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets minimum educational requirements of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Beneficiary's official academic records (diploma and transcript) list her degree field as 'Industrial Management,' which is not among the acceptable fields on the labor certification. The Form I-20 is an immigration record, not an official academic record, and the graduate coordinator letter lacked corroborating evidence and did not equate the coursework to a qualifying engineering degree.

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The Beneficiary's official academic records (diploma and transcript) list her degree field as 'Industrial Management,' which is not among the acceptable fields on the labor certification. The Form I-20 is an immigration record, not an official academic record, and the graduate coordinator letter lacked corroborating evidence and did not equate the coursework to a qualifying engineering degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2017-03-28_03_B5203; source_row=21226
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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