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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 18141–18150
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Medicine / ClinicalMaster’s
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
national in scope
Why AAO was not persuaded
The Petitioner's work was confined to a geographic area and her materials did not substantiate that her endeavors resulted in benefits beyond her employers. Being a Schedule A occupation, nursing already has an expedited labor certification process, and the Petitioner did not explain how waiving even that process is nationally beneficial.
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 Petitioner's work was confined to a geographic area and her materials did not substantiate that her endeavors resulted in benefits beyond her employers. Being a Schedule A occupation, nursing already has an expedited labor certification process, and the Petitioner did not explain how waiving even that process is nationally beneficial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-03-01_01_B5203; source_row=20168 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed that the Beneficiary's licenciatura is only equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per the EDGE database. Combining two licenciatura degrees from different institutions does not create a single foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. master's. None of the credential evaluations submitted adequately addressed EDGE's conclusions or cited peer-reviewed reference materials.
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 Beneficiary's licenciatura is only equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per the EDGE database. Combining two licenciatura degrees from different institutions does not create a single foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. master's. None of the credential evaluations submitted adequately addressed EDGE's conclusions or cited peer-reviewed reference materials.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-29_01_B5203; source_row=20156 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
24 months of experience as computer systems analyst
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found this issue beyond the scope of the Director's decision. The adjunct professor experience letter conflicted with the labor certification's listed duties and the claimed 5 hours/week of work. The Portuguese Army letter lacked an address as required by regulation. Even accepting the university experience at face value, it would account for only 137 days of full-time equivalent experience.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO found this issue beyond the scope of the Director's decision. The adjunct professor experience letter conflicted with the labor certification's listed duties and the claimed 5 hours/week of work. The Portuguese Army letter lacked an address as required by regulation. Even accepting the university experience at face value, it would account for only 137 days of full-time equivalent experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-29_01_B5203; source_row=20157 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the reference letters were largely conclusory and prospective, that the low citation count (four total citations across four papers) was inconsistent with major significance, that the article-view count was insufficiently probative, and that the award designation was not corroborated by primary evidence or criteria details sufficient to show impact.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
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AAO found that the reference letters were largely conclusory and prospective, that the low citation count (four total citations across four papers) was inconsistent with major significance, that the article-view count was insufficiently probative, and that the award designation was not corroborated by primary evidence or criteria details sufficient to show impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-24_01_B2203; source_row=20152 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO found that neither the internship role, the doctoral student positions at the university, nor the R&D assistant role at the employer demonstrated a leading or critical role within the overall organizational hierarchy or by impact on the organizations as a whole.
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 neither the internship role, the doctoral student positions at the university, nor the R&D assistant role at the employer demonstrated a leading or critical role within the overall organizational hierarchy or by impact on the organizations as a whole.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-24_01_B2203; source_row=20154 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
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 explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold step-one requirement of three criteria, but noted in dicta that the aggregate record does not support the required level of expertise.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
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AAO explicitly declined to conduct a full final merits determination because the Petitioner did not meet the threshold step-one requirement 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=2016-02-24_01_B2203; source_row=20155 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed that EDGE reliably establishes the Indian master's degree is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The evaluations submitted were prepared for advocacy and are less reliable than EDGE. An unpublished prior AAO decision is not binding or persuasive.
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 EDGE reliably establishes the Indian master's degree is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The evaluations submitted were prepared for advocacy and are less reliable than EDGE. An unpublished prior AAO decision is not binding or persuasive.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-22_01_B5203; source_row=20148 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO agreed the Indian master's degree does not satisfy the labor certification's master's degree requirement because it is not a foreign equivalent to a U.S. master's degree.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO agreed the Indian master's degree does not satisfy the labor certification's master's degree requirement because it is not a foreign equivalent to a U.S. master's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-22_01_B5203; source_row=20149 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c