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 19201–19210

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted an alternative aggregate review and found the evidence insufficient to demonstrate the level of expertise required, though it noted this was not a formal final merits determination under Kazarian.

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AAO conducted an alternative aggregate review and found the evidence insufficient to demonstrate the level of expertise required, though it noted this was not a formal final merits determination under Kazarian.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B2203; source_row=19026
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Economics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's modest citation record (21 total, average ~1.24 per paper), undocumented peer review participation, graduate-student-era awards of undemonstrated significance, and unsupported claims in letters—including an inflated citation count of 'more than thirty'—did not establish influence on 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 that the petitioner's modest citation record (21 total, average ~1.24 per paper), undocumented peer review participation, graduate-student-era awards of undemonstrated significance, and unsupported claims in letters—including an inflated citation count of 'more than thirty'—did not establish influence on the field. The 2005 non-precedent decision cited by the petitioner was not binding and did not establish that any specific citation threshold mandates approval.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=19029
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Economics

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

The director found, and AAO did not dispute, that the petitioner's field of agricultural economics research has 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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The director found, and AAO did not dispute, that the petitioner's field of agricultural economics research has substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B5203; source_row=19027
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien

What the decision said

The petitioner did not contest the director's findings for this criterion on appeal or offer additional arguments, and thus abandoned the issue.

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The petitioner did not contest the director's findings for this criterion on appeal or offer additional arguments, and thus abandoned the issue.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B2203; source_row=19022
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concurred with the director, finding that the reference letters and documentary evidence established the petitioner's critical roles with organizations having distinguished reputations.

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AAO concurred with the director, finding that the reference letters and documentary evidence established the petitioner's critical roles with organizations having distinguished reputations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_01_B2203; source_row=19025
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

valid successor-in-interest relationship

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Asset Purchase Agreement explicitly precluded assumption of the predecessor's liabilities, the predecessor continued to operate after the asset sale, and employed the beneficiary until November 2012. The petitioner purchased only certain assets (name, goodwill, equipment) rather than the essential rights and obligations necessary to carry on the business.…

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The Asset Purchase Agreement explicitly precluded assumption of the predecessor's liabilities, the predecessor continued to operate after the asset sale, and employed the beneficiary until November 2012. The petitioner purchased only certain assets (name, goodwill, equipment) rather than the essential rights and obligations necessary to carry on the business. Additionally, the predecessor remained an active corporation well after the agreement, confirming the absence of a true business transfer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_02_B5203; source_row=19030
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets labor certification requirements by priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification required 60 months of experience as an architect and did not allow experience in an alternate occupation. The beneficiary's CAD drafter experience with the petitioner could not be counted. The totality of documented qualifying architect experience was only about 19 months, falling well short of the 60 months required.

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The labor certification required 60 months of experience as an architect and did not allow experience in an alternate occupation. The beneficiary's CAD drafter experience with the petitioner could not be counted. The totality of documented qualifying architect experience was only about 19 months, falling well short of the 60 months required.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_02_B5203; source_row=19032
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's own W-2s show wages paid to the beneficiary were below the proffered wage for 2012. The petitioner's 2012 net income ($15,670) and net current assets ($0) were insufficient to cover the shortfall. Since the predecessor was not a valid successor-in-interest, its financial records could not be used.…

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The petitioner's own W-2s show wages paid to the beneficiary were below the proffered wage for 2012. The petitioner's 2012 net income ($15,670) and net current assets ($0) were insufficient to cover the shortfall. Since the predecessor was not a valid successor-in-interest, its financial records could not be used. The AAO also rejected prorating, the use of total assets, and found no Sonegawa-type circumstances warranting favorable exercise of discretion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-23_02_B5203; source_row=19031
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO stated that a final merits determination was not required because the step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in the alternative that the aggregate evidence does not demonstrate the required level of expertise.

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AAO stated that a final merits determination was not required because the step-1 threshold was not met, but noted in the alternative that the aggregate evidence does not demonstrate the required level of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-20_01_B2203; source_row=19017
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's 2012 and 2013 earnings were only slightly above the 50th percentile for sound engineers per BLS data. The employment agreement postdated the petition filing and could not establish eligibility at filing. Even at the $47.50 hourly rate, maximum projected annual earnings fell only between the 50th and 75th percentile. Geographic wage comparisons and above-average earnings were also insufficient.

Why this is useful

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The beneficiary's 2012 and 2013 earnings were only slightly above the 50th percentile for sound engineers per BLS data. The employment agreement postdated the petition filing and could not establish eligibility at filing. Even at the $47.50 hourly rate, maximum projected annual earnings fell only between the 50th and 75th percentile. Geographic wage comparisons and above-average earnings were also insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-20_01_B2203; source_row=19016
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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