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 17871–17880

NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director acknowledged intrinsic merit and AAO did not disturb that finding.

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 Director acknowledged intrinsic merit and AAO did not disturb that finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-07-06_01_B5203; source_row=20442
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

The Director's finding of national scope was undisturbed by AAO.

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 Director's finding of national scope was undisturbed by AAO.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-07-06_01_B5203; source_row=20443
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest served to substantially greater degree than a U.S. worker / track record and influence

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the Director applied the wrong standard by fixating on citations rather than evaluating all evidence for a history of demonstrable achievement with some degree of influence. Multiple letters from independent engineers and companies detailed specific, concrete uses of the Petitioner's technique with measurable results, satisfactorily chronicling his degree of influence in the field.

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 the Director applied the wrong standard by fixating on citations rather than evaluating all evidence for a history of demonstrable achievement with some degree of influence. Multiple letters from independent engineers and companies detailed specific, concrete uses of the Petitioner's technique with measurable results, satisfactorily chronicling his degree of influence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-07-06_01_B5203; source_row=20444
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent of U.S. bachelor's degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the BBA transcript did not show 3 years of study (only 2002-2003 marks), the [REDACTED] systems management credential was a post-secondary diploma not a PGD, the two credentials appeared to be pursued simultaneously (not stacked), and EDGE supports at most 2-3 years of U.S. equivalency for the BBA alone. The credentials evaluations were given little weight under Matter of Caron International.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the BBA transcript did not show 3 years of study (only 2002-2003 marks), the [REDACTED] systems management credential was a post-secondary diploma not a PGD, the two credentials appeared to be pursued simultaneously (not stacked), and EDGE supports at most 2-3 years of U.S. equivalency for the BBA alone. The credentials evaluations were given little weight under Matter of Caron International.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-06-30_01_B5203; source_row=20433
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found none of the letters meets 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1): three lacked job duty descriptions and one lacked a job title; the detailed letter was from a coworker, not an authorized representative. Even if accepted, the letters covered only 3 years 10 months, less than the required 5 years.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found none of the letters meets 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(1): three lacked job duty descriptions and one lacked a job title; the detailed letter was from a coworker, not an authorized representative. Even if accepted, the letters covered only 3 years 10 months, less than the required 5 years.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-06-30_01_B5203; source_row=20434
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Wages paid to the beneficiary

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that box 5 already includes the pre-tax deduction in box 12a, so gross wages were $76,513.59 (2014) and $76,410.66 (2015), both below the $84,937 proffered wage. Additionally, no documentary evidence was submitted to prove wages paid to the other beneficiary.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that box 5 already includes the pre-tax deduction in box 12a, so gross wages were $76,513.59 (2014) and $76,410.66 (2015), both below the $84,937 proffered wage. Additionally, no documentary evidence was submitted to prove wages paid to the other beneficiary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-06-30_02_B5203; source_row=20435
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Totality of the circumstances

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the Petitioner's employee count claim was inconsistent with quarterly wage reports (52 claimed vs. 36 documented), gross receipts declined by over $1 million between 2013 and 2014, only two tax returns were in the record making historical growth claims unverifiable, and the Petitioner still failed to document wages paid to the other beneficiary.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the Petitioner's employee count claim was inconsistent with quarterly wage reports (52 claimed vs. 36 documented), gross receipts declined by over $1 million between 2013 and 2014, only two tax returns were in the record making historical growth claims unverifiable, and the Petitioner still failed to document wages paid to the other beneficiary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-06-30_02_B5203; source_row=20437
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Net income and net current assets

Why AAO was not persuaded

The newly submitted financial reports were unaudited and of unclear accounting standard, rendering them insufficient under the regulation. The 2014 tax return showed only $79,319 net income and $68,762 net current assets — both below the combined proffered wage obligation. The Petitioner misidentified accumulated earnings as net income. No 2015 financial evidence was submitted.

Why this is useful

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

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The newly submitted financial reports were unaudited and of unclear accounting standard, rendering them insufficient under the regulation. The 2014 tax return showed only $79,319 net income and $68,762 net current assets — both below the combined proffered wage obligation. The Petitioner misidentified accumulated earnings as net income. No 2015 financial evidence was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-06-30_02_B5203; source_row=20436
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Job requires advanced degree professional

Why AAO was not persuaded

The plain language of Parts H.8 and H.14 of the labor certification allows for a 3-year bachelor's degree or a combination of education and experience equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, which is less than the single U.S. baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree required under the regulations and legislative history.…

Why this is useful

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

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The plain language of Parts H.8 and H.14 of the labor certification allows for a 3-year bachelor's degree or a combination of education and experience equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, which is less than the single U.S. baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree required under the regulations and legislative history. The credential evaluation evidence submitted did not demonstrate that all 3-year degrees, or combinations thereof, are equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, and was given little weight.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-06-27_02_B5203; source_row=20431
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Labor certification minimum educational requirement

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that several of the alternative minimum educational requirements in the labor certification fall below a full U.S. baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree. The submitted credential evaluations were given little weight because they did not define key terms and cited no specific EDGE database entries supporting their claims.…

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that several of the alternative minimum educational requirements in the labor certification fall below a full U.S. baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree. The submitted credential evaluations were given little weight because they did not define key terms and cited no specific EDGE database entries supporting their claims. Even assuming some 3-year Indian degrees could qualify, the remaining alternatives (combinations of degrees or education/training/experience) still fail to meet the regulatory requirement of a single degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-06-27_01_B5203; source_row=20429
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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