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 17581–17590

EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner failed to establish the significance of the named competitions or demonstrate influence beyond local rowers. Letters attesting to the Petitioner's skills and coached athletes' results did not establish original contributions of major significance to the field as a whole.

Why this is useful

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

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The Petitioner failed to establish the significance of the named competitions or demonstrate influence beyond local rowers. Letters attesting to the Petitioner's skills and coached athletes' results did not establish original contributions of major significance to the field as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-05_01_B2203; source_row=20744
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

possession of a U.S. advanced degree (or foreign equivalent) from an accredited institution

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed that an unaccredited institution's degree does not satisfy 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2), distinguished the HEA definition as inapplicable, and held its interpretation is neither plainly erroneous nor inconsistent with the regulation.

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AAO affirmed that an unaccredited institution's degree does not satisfy 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2), distinguished the HEA definition as inapplicable, and held its interpretation is neither plainly erroneous nor inconsistent with the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-05_01_B5203; source_row=20746
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay combined proffered wages of multiple beneficiaries

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner established ability to pay the individual proffered wage in 2014 but not the combined proffered wages of four other pending I-140 beneficiaries, and the Sonegawa totality factors did not cure the deficiency.

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AAO found the Petitioner established ability to pay the individual proffered wage in 2014 but not the combined proffered wages of four other pending I-140 beneficiaries, and the Sonegawa totality factors did not cure the deficiency.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-05_01_B5203; source_row=20747
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the Petitioner's membership on the national team is an association membership requiring outstanding achievements, as judged by recognized national experts in rowing, satisfying this criterion.

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AAO found that the Petitioner's membership on the national team is an association membership requiring outstanding achievements, as judged by recognized national experts in rowing, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-05_01_B2203; source_row=20742
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support the required level of expertise.

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AAO declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner failed to meet the threshold of three criteria, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support the required level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-05_01_B2203; source_row=20745
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

other

job offers a salary indicating exceptional ability - 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(D)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the wage data submitted (SOC 25-3099 - Teachers and Instructors, All Other) is not a meaningful comparison for a secondary teacher (SOC 25-2031), and the bottom of the proposed wage range merely matched the prevailing wage.

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AAO agreed the wage data submitted (SOC 25-3099 - Teachers and Instructors, All Other) is not a meaningful comparison for a secondary teacher (SOC 25-2031), and the bottom of the proposed wage range merely matched the prevailing wage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-04_01_B5203; source_row=20739
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

professional membership criterion - 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(E)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the documented membership meets the professional membership criterion at the initial-evidence stage.

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AAO agreed the documented membership meets the professional membership criterion at the initial-evidence stage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-04_01_B5203; source_row=20736
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

academic credential criterion - 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(A)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Beneficiary's evaluated equivalent of a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics meets the criterion.

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AAO agreed the Beneficiary's evaluated equivalent of a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics meets the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-04_01_B5203; source_row=20734
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination - degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the Beneficiary's education, minimum certification, and union membership are prerequisites for the job rather than indicia of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered. The Petitioner's argument that USCIS may not perform a qualitative review in PERM cases was rejected.

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AAO concluded the Beneficiary's education, minimum certification, and union membership are prerequisites for the job rather than indicia of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered. The Petitioner's argument that USCIS may not perform a qualitative review in PERM cases was rejected.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-04_01_B5203; source_row=20737
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

other

job requires license or certification - 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(ii)(C)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO accepted that because state law requires all teachers to be certified, the job requires a license or certification, withdrawing this aspect of the Director's analysis.

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AAO accepted that because state law requires all teachers to be certified, the job requires a license or certification, withdrawing this aspect of the Director's analysis.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-10-04_01_B5203; source_row=20738
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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