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 18011–18020

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while many Modular Container factors favored the petitioner, the Beneficiary's status as one of a small group of employees, his active involvement in recruitment, and his status as the sole U.S.-based employee near the office collectively indicated he could influence hiring decisions and the job was not clearly open to U.S. workers.

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AAO found that while many Modular Container factors favored the petitioner, the Beneficiary's status as one of a small group of employees, his active involvement in recruitment, and his status as the sole U.S.-based employee near the office collectively indicated he could influence hiring decisions and the job was not clearly open to U.S. workers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-25_02_B5203; source_row=20296
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Willful misrepresentation of material fact on ETA Form 9089 Question C.9

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that while the Beneficiary appeared to be a corporate officer, Question C.9 asks specifically about ownership interest or familial relationship, neither of which was evidenced in the record. Thus the 'No' answer was not a misrepresentation of the facts covered by that question.

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AAO found that while the Beneficiary appeared to be a corporate officer, Question C.9 asks specifically about ownership interest or familial relationship, neither of which was evidenced in the record. Thus the 'No' answer was not a misrepresentation of the facts covered by that question.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-25_02_B5203; source_row=20295
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD13 papers100 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

The record contains documentation showing the Petitioner peer-reviewed articles published in conference proceedings, satisfying this criterion.

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The record contains documentation showing the Petitioner peer-reviewed articles published in conference proceedings, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-25_01_B2203; source_row=20291
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD13 papers100 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

high salary or remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

On appeal, the Petitioner submitted DOL Online Wage Library data showing Level 4 Computer and Information Research Scientists earn $120,016/year, while his W-2 forms showed compensation of ~$238,731 in 2014, nearly double the benchmark, satisfying the high salary criterion.

Why this is useful

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On appeal, the Petitioner submitted DOL Online Wage Library data showing Level 4 Computer and Information Research Scientists earn $120,016/year, while his W-2 forms showed compensation of ~$238,731 in 2014, nearly double the benchmark, satisfying the high salary criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-25_01_B2203; source_row=20293
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD13 papers100 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the totality of evidence — citation impact, salary, peer-review quality, private-sector achievements including a proprietary risk management system that freed $90 million in risk capital and reduced runtime from 40 minutes to under 2 minutes, and reference letters from experts — established extraordinary ability.

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AAO found the totality of evidence — citation impact, salary, peer-review quality, private-sector achievements including a proprietary risk management system that freed $90 million in risk capital and reduced runtime from 40 minutes to under 2 minutes, and reference letters from experts — established extraordinary ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-25_01_B2203; source_row=20294
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIPhD13 papers100 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The record shows the Petitioner authored 13 articles that appeared in scholarly publications including conference proceedings and academic journals.

Why this is useful

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The record shows the Petitioner authored 13 articles that appeared in scholarly publications including conference proceedings and academic journals.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-25_01_B2203; source_row=20292
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serve national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's claimed unique qualifications (computer technology expertise, writing skills, nineteen years of experience, professional credentials, and 'highly effective' ratings) are insufficient because the inapplicability of labor certification cannot alone justify a national interest waiver; the Petitioner still must show he would serve the national interest substantially greater than an available U.S. worker.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner's claimed unique qualifications (computer technology expertise, writing skills, nineteen years of experience, professional credentials, and 'highly effective' ratings) are insufficient because the inapplicability of labor certification cannot alone justify a national interest waiver; the Petitioner still must show he would serve the national interest substantially greater than an available U.S. worker.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-22_06_B5203; source_row=20287
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social SciencesPhD

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serving the national interest to a substantially greater degree than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found no documentary evidence that the Petitioner's published and presented work had been frequently cited by independent scholars, that his proposals had been widely implemented, or that his work otherwise influenced the field of complexity leadership as a whole. Reference letters were conclusory, partially duplicative, and lacked specific examples of field-wide impact.…

Why this is useful

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AAO found no documentary evidence that the Petitioner's published and presented work had been frequently cited by independent scholars, that his proposals had been widely implemented, or that his work otherwise influenced the field of complexity leadership as a whole. Reference letters were conclusory, partially duplicative, and lacked specific examples of field-wide impact. Academic awards had only institutional significance, peer review activities were routine, and skills characterizing the Petitioner as 'unique' related to labor certification availability rather than national interest.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-22_07_B5203; source_row=20290
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner's proposed non-profit foundation did not exist at the time of filing, no school systems have implemented the proposal, the foundation has received no financial grants, and new letters from government officials do not indicate intent to advance the proposal. Performance evaluations post-date the filing and cannot be used to establish eligibility.

Why this is useful

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The Petitioner's proposed non-profit foundation did not exist at the time of filing, no school systems have implemented the proposal, the foundation has received no financial grants, and new letters from government officials do not indicate intent to advance the proposal. Performance evaluations post-date the filing and cannot be used to establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-22_06_B5203; source_row=20286
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner's employment as a special education teacher was in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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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Both the Director and AAO agreed that the Petitioner's employment as a special education teacher was in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-04-22_06_B5203; source_row=20285
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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