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 18191–18200

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wages of other immigrant petition beneficiaries

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted no information or documentation about its other immigrant petitions on appeal and did not acknowledge the issue, leaving the record without evidence of ability to pay other beneficiaries.

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The petitioner submitted no information or documentation about its other immigrant petitions on appeal and did not acknowledge the issue, leaving the record without evidence of ability to pay other beneficiaries.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_03_B5203; source_row=20104
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Overall business magnitude and totality of circumstances (Sonegawa)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although the petitioner's business has grown since 2011, the growth history is insufficient to establish long-term historical growth and does not overcome the lack of financial resources to pay the proffered wage in 2013 and 2014.

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Although the petitioner's business has grown since 2011, the growth history is insufficient to establish long-term historical growth and does not overcome the lack of financial resources to pay the proffered wage in 2013 and 2014.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_03_B5203; source_row=20103
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Net current assets sufficient to cover wage shortfall

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's net current assets were $40,795 in 2013 and $0 in 2014, insufficient to cover the wage shortfall in either year.

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The petitioner's net current assets were $40,795 in 2013 and $0 in 2014, insufficient to cover the wage shortfall in either year.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_03_B5203; source_row=20102
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets labor certification degree field requirement

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification required a degree in graphic design, art, or a related design field. The Beneficiary's degree is in political science, and the transcripts showed no coursework in art, design, or graphic design. The credential evaluations only confirmed equivalency to a U.S. political science degree, not to a design-field degree.

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The labor certification required a degree in graphic design, art, or a related design field. The Beneficiary's degree is in political science, and the transcripts showed no coursework in art, design, or graphic design. The credential evaluations only confirmed equivalency to a U.S. political science degree, not to a design-field degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_08_B5203; source_row=20123
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Experience using required technologies specified in Part H.14 of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO independently found that the supporting documentation for the credited employers (the Petitioner and the two other credited employers) did not indicate the Beneficiary used any of the technologies listed in Part H.14 of the labor certification (AIX/C/C++/C#/.Net/VB/J2ee/JMS/Oracle/DB2/MQ/Solaris/Ab Initio/Mainframe).

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AAO independently found that the supporting documentation for the credited employers (the Petitioner and the two other credited employers) did not indicate the Beneficiary used any of the technologies listed in Part H.14 of the labor certification (AIX/C/C++/C#/.Net/VB/J2ee/JMS/Oracle/DB2/MQ/Solaris/Ab Initio/Mainframe).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_05_B5203; source_row=20117
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Qualifying experience with Indian employer (overlapping employment discrepancy)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the appeal resolved the name-change issue but left unresolved both the irregular type suggesting alteration of the letter and the overlapping simultaneous full-time employment claimed on the labor certification. These discrepancies were not resolved by independent objective evidence.

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AAO found the appeal resolved the name-change issue but left unresolved both the irregular type suggesting alteration of the letter and the overlapping simultaneous full-time employment claimed on the labor certification. These discrepancies were not resolved by independent objective evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_05_B5203; source_row=20116
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay under Sonegawa totality of circumstances

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO considered Sonegawa factors but found the record showed no uncharacteristic expenditures or losses, no outstanding industry reputation, no indication the beneficiary would replace a current employee, and crucially the petitioner had to pay multiple beneficiaries — unlike Sonegawa.

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AAO considered Sonegawa factors but found the record showed no uncharacteristic expenditures or losses, no outstanding industry reputation, no indication the beneficiary would replace a current employee, and crucially the petitioner had to pay multiple beneficiaries — unlike Sonegawa.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_05_B5203; source_row=20112
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Priority date from which ability to pay must be demonstrated

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO held that 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(e) accords an earlier priority date to the beneficiary, not to the petition itself; each petition retains its own priority date under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(d). The Director also failed to request ability-to-pay evidence from 2009 in the RFE, which constituted inadequate notice.

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AAO held that 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(e) accords an earlier priority date to the beneficiary, not to the petition itself; each petition retains its own priority date under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(d). The Director also failed to request ability-to-pay evidence from 2009 in the RFE, which constituted inadequate notice.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_05_B5203; source_row=20109
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay based on wages paid to beneficiary

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the different control numbers cast doubt on the claimed 2013 and 2014 payments, and the CEO's explanation was unsupported by documentary corroboration.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed the different control numbers cast doubt on the claimed 2013 and 2014 payments, and the CEO's explanation was unsupported by documentary corroboration.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_05_B5203; source_row=20110
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay based on net income and net current assets (multiple beneficiaries)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Net income ($33,495 in 2013; $46,499 in 2014) fell short of the $100,298 proffered wage. Although net current assets ($125,928 in 2013; $214,247 in 2014) exceeded the individual proffered wage, the petitioner had at least three other pending I-140 petitions and did not provide evidence of the combined proffered wages, preventing a showing of ability to pay all beneficiaries.

Why this is useful

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

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Net income ($33,495 in 2013; $46,499 in 2014) fell short of the $100,298 proffered wage. Although net current assets ($125,928 in 2013; $214,247 in 2014) exceeded the individual proffered wage, the petitioner had at least three other pending I-140 petitions and did not provide evidence of the combined proffered wages, preventing a showing of ability to pay all beneficiaries.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2016-02-09_05_B5203; source_row=20111
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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