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 19321–19330

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing EngineeringBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Beneficiary meets advanced degree professional requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concludes the beneficiary has only three years and six months of qualifying specialty experience as an Industrial Engineer/Quantitative Analyst, falling 18 months short of the five years required.…

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AAO concludes the beneficiary has only three years and six months of qualifying specialty experience as an Industrial Engineer/Quantitative Analyst, falling 18 months short of the five years required. The beneficiary's prior experience owning and operating a stone-products import business does not constitute full-time experience in the specialty because the duties (price forecasting for precious metals, statistical analysis, etc.) were not shown to have been performed there.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-23_02_B5203; source_row=18892
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary qualifications per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO raised this issue sua sponte on de novo review. The labor certification requires a Master's degree in Chemistry, but the record lacked official transcripts to confirm the beneficiary's foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. Master's degree in Chemistry.

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AAO raised this issue sua sponte on de novo review. The labor certification requires a Master's degree in Chemistry, but the record lacked official transcripts to confirm the beneficiary's foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. Master's degree in Chemistry.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-23_01_B5203; source_row=18890
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner paid the beneficiary less than the proffered wage in both 2012 and 2013. Net income and net current assets for 2012 were insufficient to cover the gap. The 2013 tax return was not submitted; the accountant letter was not an audited statement and referenced only total assets rather than net current assets. Evidence regarding owner salary availability was contradictory and unsupported.…

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The petitioner paid the beneficiary less than the proffered wage in both 2012 and 2013. Net income and net current assets for 2012 were insufficient to cover the gap. The 2013 tax return was not submitted; the accountant letter was not an audited statement and referenced only total assets rather than net current assets. Evidence regarding owner salary availability was contradictory and unsupported. Totality of circumstances did not establish ability to pay.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-23_01_B5203; source_row=18889
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found this finding less persuasive, noting minimal evidence that the beneficiary received any award individually or as a member of a winning team.

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AAO found this finding less persuasive, noting minimal evidence that the beneficiary received any award individually or as a member of a winning team.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=18883
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the beneficiary

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found this favorable finding less persuasive, observing that the petitioner did not submit a certified translation of the foreign language published material.

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AAO found this favorable finding less persuasive, observing that the petitioner did not submit a certified translation of the foreign language published material.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=18884
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the salary evidence is consistent with the beneficiary being among the small percentage at the very top of the field, noting his earnings well exceed prevailing wages in his occupation.

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AAO found that the salary evidence is consistent with the beneficiary being among the small percentage at the very top of the field, noting his earnings well exceed prevailing wages in his occupation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=18887
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

leading or critical role

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed, citing reference letters establishing the beneficiary's leading or critical role as Creative Director and prior roles for a distinguished videogame publisher and developer.

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AAO agreed, citing reference letters establishing the beneficiary's leading or critical role as Creative Director and prior roles for a distinguished videogame publisher and developer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=18886
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed, citing letters describing the beneficiary's peer reviews and creative oversight, his written critiques of videogames in development, and his service on a design judging panel.

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AAO agreed, citing letters describing the beneficiary's peer reviews and creative oversight, his written critiques of videogames in development, and his service on a design judging panel.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=18885
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded the totality of evidence — leadership roles at distinguished companies, judging, high salary, and innovative credited work on award-winning, commercially successful videogames — establishes the beneficiary is among the small percentage at the very top of the field with sustained acclaim.

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AAO concluded the totality of evidence — leadership roles at distinguished companies, judging, high salary, and innovative credited work on award-winning, commercially successful videogames — establishes the beneficiary is among the small percentage at the very top of the field with sustained acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=18888
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 noted that because step one was not satisfied, no final merits determination was required, but stated in the alternative that the aggregate evidence does not show the petitioner has achieved the level of expertise required for the classification.

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AAO noted that because step one was not satisfied, no final merits determination was required, but stated in the alternative that the aggregate evidence does not show the petitioner has achieved the level of expertise required for the classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-12-15_01_B2203; source_row=18851
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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