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 19261–19270

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that the beneficiary's Philippine bachelor's degree is not above the baccalaureate level; EDGE classifies the five-year Philippine BS in Physical Therapy as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's, and the petitioner's evaluations contained unaddressed inconsistencies (e.g., conflating credit minimums and erroneously relying on EDGE's Bachelor of Laws entry).

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AAO held that the beneficiary's Philippine bachelor's degree is not above the baccalaureate level; EDGE classifies the five-year Philippine BS in Physical Therapy as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's, and the petitioner's evaluations contained unaddressed inconsistencies (e.g., conflating credit minimums and erroneously relying on EDGE's Bachelor of Laws entry).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_04_B5203; source_row=18964
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves national interest to substantially greater degree than U.S. worker with same minimum qualifications

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that specialized training and mastery of specific procedures does not satisfy the national interest threshold, since the issue of whether similarly-trained workers are available is a matter for the Department of Labor. The petitioner's claimed stature and publications were unsupported by reliable evidence, and expert letters lacked specificity and corroboration.…

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AAO found that specialized training and mastery of specific procedures does not satisfy the national interest threshold, since the issue of whether similarly-trained workers are available is a matter for the Department of Labor. The petitioner's claimed stature and publications were unsupported by reliable evidence, and expert letters lacked specificity and corroboration. Claiming qualifications above the minimum is insufficient because even aliens of exceptional ability are statutorily subject to the job offer requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_02_B5203; source_row=18960
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

benefit national interest to substantially greater degree than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the letters were largely conclusory, three citations did not show field-wide influence, journal impact factors do not establish each article's impact, the awards (one limited to physicians-in-training) did not show influence, special skills go to labor certification rather than NIW, and post-filing evidence cannot establish eligibility.

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AAO found the letters were largely conclusory, three citations did not show field-wide influence, journal impact factors do not establish each article's impact, the awards (one limited to physicians-in-training) did not show influence, special skills go to labor certification rather than NIW, and post-filing evidence cannot establish eligibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_05_B5203; source_row=18968
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical0 citations

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest served to substantially greater degree than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's research had only one citation, her teaching duties were routine and linked to temporary fellowship training rather than a permanent position, her clinical impact was inherently limited to her patient base, claimed cost savings were unsupported, and expert letters lacked corroboration.…

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AAO found that the petitioner's research had only one citation, her teaching duties were routine and linked to temporary fellowship training rather than a permanent position, her clinical impact was inherently limited to her patient base, claimed cost savings were unsupported, and expert letters lacked corroboration. A nephrologist shortage does not justify the waiver because labor certification accounts for worker availability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_01_B5203; source_row=18950
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

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 work as a pathologist has substantial intrinsic merit.

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The director found, and AAO did not dispute, that the petitioner's work as a pathologist has substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_03_B5203; source_row=18961
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets minimum requirements of ETA Form 9089

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that H.14's alternate-combination language derives from 20 C.F.R. § 656.17(h)(4)(ii), which does not apply to Schedule A certifications under § 656.15, and in any event does not lower the H.4 master's-degree requirement. The beneficiary's Philippine bachelor's degree was not shown to be equivalent to a U.S. master's.

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AAO held that H.14's alternate-combination language derives from 20 C.F.R. § 656.17(h)(4)(ii), which does not apply to Schedule A certifications under § 656.15, and in any event does not lower the H.4 master's-degree requirement. The beneficiary's Philippine bachelor's degree was not shown to be equivalent to a U.S. master's.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_04_B5203; source_row=18965
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not dispute the intrinsic merit of the petitioner's field of pulmonary/critical care medicine.

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AAO did not dispute the intrinsic merit of the petitioner's field of pulmonary/critical care medicine.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_02_B5203; source_row=18958
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner had no published papers, only a submitted manuscript of uncertain acceptance, mostly local or regional conference presentations, and supervisory duties as a fellow that would not continue after his temporary fellowship. The dispersal of former trainees does not create national scope, and the petitioner's 'small study' poster presentation did not show adoption of any national standard.

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AAO found the petitioner had no published papers, only a submitted manuscript of uncertain acceptance, mostly local or regional conference presentations, and supervisory duties as a fellow that would not continue after his temporary fellowship. The dispersal of former trainees does not create national scope, and the petitioner's 'small study' poster presentation did not show adoption of any national standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_02_B5203; source_row=18959
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that work as a physician is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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AAO agreed that work as a physician is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_05_B5203; source_row=18966
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded clinical practice is local, and although research is national in scope, the petitioner did not show he would continue research after his fellowship — his Form I-140 stated he would 'diagnose and treat patients' and the recruiter emails did not mention research.

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AAO concluded clinical practice is local, and although research is national in scope, the petitioner did not show he would continue research after his fellowship — his Form I-140 stated he would 'diagnose and treat patients' and the recruiter emails did not mention research.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2015-01-09_05_B5203; source_row=18967
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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