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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 19801–19810

NIWotherReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

bona fide job opportunity / alien influence and control

What the decision said

AAO concluded the LLC was treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes, so disclosure was relevant, but the evidence (small non-voting share, company size, beneficiary's duties) suggested no influence over the labor certification process. Because one regulatory documentation requirement was unmet, AAO remanded for a totality-of-the-circumstances evaluation rather than affirming invalidation.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO concluded the LLC was treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes, so disclosure was relevant, but the evidence (small non-voting share, company size, beneficiary's duties) suggested no influence over the labor certification process. Because one regulatory documentation requirement was unmet, AAO remanded for a totality-of-the-circumstances evaluation rather than affirming invalidation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-18_01_B5203; source_row=18349
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

EDGE establishes that a three-year post-high-school diploma from Uzbekistan (pre-2000, when bachelor's degrees were first awarded there) is equivalent only to vocational or specialized high school completion in the U.S. The two credential evaluations in the record were conflicting and unsigned, reducing their probative value.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
EDGE establishes that a three-year post-high-school diploma from Uzbekistan (pre-2000, when bachelor's degrees were first awarded there) is equivalent only to vocational or specialized high school completion in the U.S. The two credential evaluations in the record were conflicting and unsigned, reducing their probative value. Under Matter of Shah, a three-year degree generally does not constitute the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-15_01_B5203; source_row=18347
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets labor certification experience requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

Multiple experience letters overlap with each other and with the beneficiary's claimed self-employment, suggesting simultaneous full-time positions. Tax returns show inconsistent company names versus the labor certification. The petitioner provided no response to the NOID on these discrepancies and did not address the issue on motion.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Multiple experience letters overlap with each other and with the beneficiary's claimed self-employment, suggesting simultaneous full-time positions. Tax returns show inconsistent company names versus the labor certification. The petitioner provided no response to the NOID on these discrepancies and did not address the issue on motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-15_01_B5203; source_row=18348
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Possession of advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO relied on EDGE, a peer-reviewed source of foreign credential equivalencies, which classifies the Maitrise as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree and the CAPES as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree in secondary education.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO relied on EDGE, a peer-reviewed source of foreign credential equivalencies, which classifies the Maitrise as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree and the CAPES as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree in secondary education. The petitioner's evidence was internally inconsistent — letters from the Cultural Attaché claiming the CAPES equals a master's degree were undermined by letters from faculty and an academic director stating that teachers must hold both a master's degree and the CAPES, indicating the CAPES is a separate credential.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-14_01_B5203; source_row=18341
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets labor certification educational requirement (Master's degree in Occupational Therapy or foreign equivalent)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO relied on AACRAO EDGE and direct consultation with AACRAO to find that a Filipino Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy—even a five-year program—is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a master's degree. Length of study alone does not elevate a bachelor's-level program to master's equivalency.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO relied on AACRAO EDGE and direct consultation with AACRAO to find that a Filipino Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy—even a five-year program—is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a master's degree. Length of study alone does not elevate a bachelor's-level program to master's equivalency. The private credential evaluations were not credible or corroborated, and neither the NBCOT certification nor Georgia licensure constitutes a determination of advanced degree equivalency binding on USCIS.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-14_02_B5203; source_row=18342
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary qualifications per labor certification minimum requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the AACRAO EDGE report concluded the beneficiary's Master of Computer Applications degree is comparable to a degree in computer application, not computer science. The petitioner's three evaluations were insufficient because the record lacked a complete transcript of the beneficiary's studies, evidence that the curricula were identical to a U.S.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that the AACRAO EDGE report concluded the beneficiary's Master of Computer Applications degree is comparable to a degree in computer application, not computer science. The petitioner's three evaluations were insufficient because the record lacked a complete transcript of the beneficiary's studies, evidence that the curricula were identical to a U.S. Computer Science master's program, and because an expert evaluator's claims about the beneficiary completing a two-year Computer Science degree were internally inconsistent and unsupported.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-14_03_B5203; source_row=18343
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Labor certification requires advanced degree professional

What the decision said

AAO did not resolve this question, instead remanding for further investigation into whether H.14 language permits something less than a Bachelor's degree or is consistent with the advanced degree classification.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO did not resolve this question, instead remanding for further investigation into whether H.14 language permits something less than a Bachelor's degree or is consistent with the advanced degree classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-14_04_B5203; source_row=18344
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary possesses 60 months of required experience

What the decision said

AAO identified specific inconsistencies in the record but declined to resolve the factual question, instead remanding for further director review of the evidence.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO identified specific inconsistencies in the record but declined to resolve the factual question, instead remanding for further director review of the evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-14_04_B5203; source_row=18345
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Petitioner's ability to pay proffered wage

What the decision said

AAO raised ability-to-pay concerns sua sponte though it was not a basis for the revocation, noting the large number of petitions filed, potential successor-in-interest liabilities, and missing certified tax returns/transcripts, and directed the petitioner to address these on remand.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO raised ability-to-pay concerns sua sponte though it was not a basis for the revocation, noting the large number of petitions filed, potential successor-in-interest liabilities, and missing certified tax returns/transcripts, and directed the petitioner to address these on remand.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-14_04_B5203; source_row=18346
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-time major internationally recognized award

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the petitioner's achievements did not qualify as a one-time major internationally recognized award. The foreign-language articles lacked certified translations, the publications were not shown to be international media, and some achievements were age-limited to the junior category and not open to the entire field.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO agreed that the petitioner's achievements did not qualify as a one-time major internationally recognized award. The foreign-language articles lacked certified translations, the publications were not shown to be international media, and some achievements were age-limited to the junior category and not open to the entire field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-08-08_02_B2203; source_row=18330
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment