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 19861–19870

EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner's 1980s skating performances relate to competitive ice dancing, not coaching. Supervising staff coaches does not constitute display of work at artistic exhibitions. This criterion is limited to visual arts, and the petitioner is not a visual artist; the interpretation has been upheld by federal courts.

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Petitioner's 1980s skating performances relate to competitive ice dancing, not coaching. Supervising staff coaches does not constitute display of work at artistic exhibitions. This criterion is limited to visual arts, and the petitioner is not a visual artist; the interpretation has been upheld by federal courts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_01_B2203; source_row=18264
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

Awards from the petitioner's competitive athletic career in the 1980s–90s do not establish recognition as a coach. Awards received by the petitioner's students do not constitute the petitioner's own receipt of awards. Recommendation letters lacked proper contact information and were unsupported by documentary evidence.

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Awards from the petitioner's competitive athletic career in the 1980s–90s do not establish recognition as a coach. Awards received by the petitioner's students do not constitute the petitioner's own receipt of awards. Recommendation letters lacked proper contact information and were unsupported by documentary evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_01_B2203; source_row=18259
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

While the district manager letter was sufficient to show the petitioner held a leading role as head coach, there was no objective evidence that the organization had a distinguished reputation. Furthermore, the plain language of the regulation requires a leading or critical role for organizations in the plural, and the petitioner only demonstrated a role with one organization.

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While the district manager letter was sufficient to show the petitioner held a leading role as head coach, there was no objective evidence that the organization had a distinguished reputation. Furthermore, the plain language of the regulation requires a leading or critical role for organizations in the plural, and the petitioner only demonstrated a role with one organization.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_01_B2203; source_row=18265
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that most articles were about the shows or productions and not about the petitioner, and that the petitioner failed to submit independent documentary evidence establishing that the relevant publications constituted professional or major trade publications or major media.

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AAO found that most articles were about the shows or productions and not about the petitioner, and that the petitioner failed to submit independent documentary evidence establishing that the relevant publications constituted professional or major trade publications or major media.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_02_B2203; source_row=18269
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO declined to consider this criterion on appeal because it was raised for the first time on appeal and was not previously claimed before the director. Notwithstanding, AAO found that even if considered, the evidence (an invitation and registration as a voter) did not demonstrate actual participation as a judge.

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AAO declined to consider this criterion on appeal because it was raised for the first time on appeal and was not previously claimed before the director. Notwithstanding, AAO found that even if considered, the evidence (an invitation and registration as a voter) did not demonstrate actual participation as a judge.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_02_B2203; source_row=18270
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AIBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

single foreign equivalent of U.S. baccalaureate degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the beneficiary's three-year Indian BSc is comparable to only 2-3 years of U.S. study per EDGE, and coursework that did not culminate in a degree cannot be combined to form a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's. The credentials evaluation was internally inconsistent because it cited a 'final diploma' as a factor while no master's diploma was issued.

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AAO found the beneficiary's three-year Indian BSc is comparable to only 2-3 years of U.S. study per EDGE, and coursework that did not culminate in a degree cannot be combined to form a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's. The credentials evaluation was internally inconsistent because it cited a 'final diploma' as a factor while no master's diploma was issued.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_03_B5203; source_row=18274
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay the proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO raised this issue sua sponte. The petitioner paid the beneficiary only $57,804.61 against a proffered wage of $147,098, and while net income may have covered the gap for this one petition, the petitioner had filed over 1,000 I-140 petitions. Without documentation of the combined proffered wages and status of those other petitions, ability to pay was not established.

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The AAO raised this issue sua sponte. The petitioner paid the beneficiary only $57,804.61 against a proffered wage of $147,098, and while net income may have covered the gap for this one petition, the petitioner had filed over 1,000 I-140 petitions. Without documentation of the combined proffered wages and status of those other petitions, ability to pay was not established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_05_B5203; source_row=18280
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets minimum experience requirement of the labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the contemporaneous evidence only established approximately 10 months of qualifying experience. Key claimed periods could not be verified due to the beneficiary's absences from the U.S. and because the duties of software engineer and software developer positions did not match the managerial requirements of the offered senior programmer/analyst position under its O*NET classification.

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The AAO found that the contemporaneous evidence only established approximately 10 months of qualifying experience. Key claimed periods could not be verified due to the beneficiary's absences from the U.S. and because the duties of software engineer and software developer positions did not match the managerial requirements of the offered senior programmer/analyst position under its O*NET classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_05_B5203; source_row=18279
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

minimum educational requirements of offered position

Why AAO was not persuaded

Without an official academic record showing the required bachelor's degree, the petitioner could not establish that the beneficiary met the minimum educational requirements of the labor certification by the priority date.

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Without an official academic record showing the required bachelor's degree, the petitioner could not establish that the beneficiary met the minimum educational requirements of the labor certification by the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_04_B5203; source_row=18276
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

misrepresentation on ETA Form 9089 Section C.9 (ownership interest/familial relationship)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found no misrepresentation because the petitioner is a wholly owned subsidiary of a publicly traded company, there is no evidence of the beneficiary having an ownership interest or familial relationship with any owner or officer, and the beneficiary's position as a corporate officer does not constitute the type of interest or relationship C.9 requires to be disclosed.

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AAO found no misrepresentation because the petitioner is a wholly owned subsidiary of a publicly traded company, there is no evidence of the beneficiary having an ownership interest or familial relationship with any owner or officer, and the beneficiary's position as a corporate officer does not constitute the type of interest or relationship C.9 requires to be disclosed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-07-31_04_B5203; source_row=18278
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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