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 18341–18350

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that employment recognition, professional memberships, judging activities, reference letters with boilerplate language, sparse independent citations, salary only slightly above median, and professional licenses did not collectively demonstrate extraordinary ability or sustained national/international acclaim at the top of the field.

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AAO found that employment recognition, professional memberships, judging activities, reference letters with boilerplate language, sparse independent citations, salary only slightly above median, and professional licenses did not collectively demonstrate extraordinary ability or sustained national/international acclaim at the top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_01_B2203; source_row=19941
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

offered position requires advanced degree professional

Why AAO was not persuaded

The original Form I-140 has a handwritten X in Box 1.d. requesting advanced degree professional classification, and the labor certification requires only a bachelor's degree without progressive experience, so the petition cannot be approved in the requested classification.

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The original Form I-140 has a handwritten X in Box 1.d. requesting advanced degree professional classification, and the labor certification requires only a bachelor's degree without progressive experience, so the petition cannot be approved in the requested classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_01_B5203; source_row=19942
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner met the plain language of the scholarly articles criterion.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner met the plain language of the scholarly articles criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_01_B2203; source_row=19939
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner demonstrated a critical role at a company with a distinguished reputation and contributed to cost savings and improved reliability.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner demonstrated a critical role at a company with a distinguished reputation and contributed to cost savings and improved reliability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_01_B2203; source_row=19940
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Electrical / Electronic Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner met the plain language of the criterion through dissertation evaluations and contract bid ratings.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner met the plain language of the criterion through dissertation evaluations and contract bid ratings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_01_B2203; source_row=19938
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

The AAO held that a petitioner with multiple pending I-140 beneficiaries must demonstrate ability to pay all of their combined proffered wages, as wage obligations are liabilities bearing on the realism of any job offer. The record lacked proffered wage information for 12 of 39 relevant petitions, and the Petitioner failed to document withdrawals of the others.…

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The AAO held that a petitioner with multiple pending I-140 beneficiaries must demonstrate ability to pay all of their combined proffered wages, as wage obligations are liabilities bearing on the realism of any job offer. The record lacked proffered wage information for 12 of 39 relevant petitions, and the Petitioner failed to document withdrawals of the others. The overall magnitude of business activities under Sonegawa was also insufficient given the absence of uncharacteristic losses or outstanding industry reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_02_B5203; source_row=19944
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets educational requirements of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the 2006 evaluation lacked supporting baccalaureate documents, was inconsistent with EDGE data, and did not account for the Beneficiary's claimed full-time employment during his enrollment. The 2014 evaluation, even if credited, showed a degree in economics — a field not specified as acceptable on the labor certification. The alternative of five years post-baccalaureate experience was also not established.

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The AAO found the 2006 evaluation lacked supporting baccalaureate documents, was inconsistent with EDGE data, and did not account for the Beneficiary's claimed full-time employment during his enrollment. The 2014 evaluation, even if credited, showed a degree in economics — a field not specified as acceptable on the labor certification. The alternative of five years post-baccalaureate experience was also not established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_02_B5203; source_row=19945
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay individual proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that the Petitioner paid the Beneficiary $69,235.24 in 2007 (exceeding the $65,000 proffered wage) and $62,114.16 in 2008, and that the Petitioner's 2008 net income of $13,794 was sufficient to cover the $2,885.84 shortfall, thus establishing ability to pay the individual proffered wage.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found that the Petitioner paid the Beneficiary $69,235.24 in 2007 (exceeding the $65,000 proffered wage) and $62,114.16 in 2008, and that the Petitioner's 2008 net income of $13,794 was sufficient to cover the $2,885.84 shortfall, thus establishing ability to pay the individual proffered wage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-09_02_B5203; source_row=19943
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent degree to U.S. baccalaureate

Why AAO was not persuaded

The regulation requires an official academic record showing a baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree from a college or university. The beneficiary's associate membership certificate from a professional institution is not such a degree, regardless of whether it may be considered educationally comparable for other purposes such as graduate school admission.

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The regulation requires an official academic record showing a baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree from a college or university. The beneficiary's associate membership certificate from a professional institution is not such a degree, regardless of whether it may be considered educationally comparable for other purposes such as graduate school admission.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-07_02_B5203; source_row=19936
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Qualifying experience at second employer (medical school/university)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The submitted letter did not comply with regulatory requirements because it was not from the purported employer. Even if the employer letter were unavailable, numerous unexplained inconsistencies in the record—including conflicts between the labor certification, the research specialist's letter, and the Beneficiary's own affidavit regarding the employer's identity, job titles, and full-time versus part-time status—cast doub…

Why this is useful

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The submitted letter did not comply with regulatory requirements because it was not from the purported employer. Even if the employer letter were unavailable, numerous unexplained inconsistencies in the record—including conflicts between the labor certification, the research specialist's letter, and the Beneficiary's own affidavit regarding the employer's identity, job titles, and full-time versus part-time status—cast doubt on the claimed experience. The research specialist also lacked personal knowledge of the earliest portion of the claimed period.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-12-07_01_B5203; source_row=19934
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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