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 20241–20250

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

foreign equivalent of a U.S. advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the director that the FCCPT 'substantial equivalence' evaluation, which aggregates coursework beyond the single degree, does not establish that the beneficiary's degree itself is a foreign equivalent of a U.S. master's; EDGE confirms the Philippine PT bachelor's is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's.

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AAO agreed with the director that the FCCPT 'substantial equivalence' evaluation, which aggregates coursework beyond the single degree, does not establish that the beneficiary's degree itself is a foreign equivalent of a U.S. master's; EDGE confirms the Philippine PT bachelor's is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_04_B5203; source_row=17822
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets minimum requirements of offered position per ETA Form 9089

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the beneficiary's Philippine bachelor's degree is the foreign equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate and not a master's degree, and because the petitioner did not claim the alternate five years of post-baccalaureate experience, the beneficiary does not meet the stated minimum requirements of the position on the ETA Form 9089.

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Because the beneficiary's Philippine bachelor's degree is the foreign equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate and not a master's degree, and because the petitioner did not claim the alternate five years of post-baccalaureate experience, the beneficiary does not meet the stated minimum requirements of the position on the ETA Form 9089.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_10_B5203; source_row=17836
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

permanent, full-time employment

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner submitted no additional evidence; director's finding affirmed.

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Petitioner submitted no additional evidence; director's finding affirmed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_05_B5203; source_row=17827
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay the proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner submitted no additional evidence in response to certification; director's finding affirmed.

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Petitioner submitted no additional evidence in response to certification; director's finding affirmed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_05_B5203; source_row=17826
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Net income sufficient to cover proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's 2012 net income (IRS Form 1120, Line 28) was -$5,437, which is insufficient to pay the $78,582 proffered wage. USCIS properly relies on net income rather than gross receipts or gross profits, and the event production costs represent business expenses not available to pay wages.

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The petitioner's 2012 net income (IRS Form 1120, Line 28) was -$5,437, which is insufficient to pay the $78,582 proffered wage. USCIS properly relies on net income rather than gross receipts or gross profits, and the event production costs represent business expenses not available to pay wages.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_02_B5203; source_row=17818
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary possessed required qualifications as of priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO raised this ground independently. The beneficiary was not listed as a licensee on the California Architects Board website, and state law requires licensure to practice architecture. Without evidence of a license, the beneficiary has not been shown to be qualified for the proffered position.

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The AAO raised this ground independently. The beneficiary was not listed as a licensee on the California Architects Board website, and state law requires licensure to practice architecture. Without evidence of a license, the beneficiary has not been shown to be qualified for the proffered position.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_02_B5203; source_row=17821
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Net current assets sufficient to cover proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Net current assets of $15,000 were insufficient. Even adding the claimed $46,745 in outside services, the combined total of $61,745 falls short of the $78,582 proffered wage. The record also did not establish that outside services funds would have been available to pay the beneficiary.

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Net current assets of $15,000 were insufficient. Even adding the claimed $46,745 in outside services, the combined total of $61,745 falls short of the $78,582 proffered wage. The record also did not establish that outside services funds would have been available to pay the beneficiary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_02_B5203; source_row=17819
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Wages paid to beneficiary equal to or exceeding proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record contained no IRS W-2 or Form 1099 issued to the beneficiary by the petitioner, so prima facie proof of ability to pay via wages paid was not established.

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The record contained no IRS W-2 or Form 1099 issued to the beneficiary by the petitioner, so prima facie proof of ability to pay via wages paid was not established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_02_B5203; source_row=17817
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Owner's personal resources to supplement corporate ability to pay

Why AAO was not persuaded

USCIS cannot pierce the corporate veil to consider a corporation owner's personal assets. A corporation is a separate and distinct legal entity from its owners, and no documentary evidence of the owner's resources was submitted in any case.

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USCIS cannot pierce the corporate veil to consider a corporation owner's personal assets. A corporation is a separate and distinct legal entity from its owners, and no documentary evidence of the owner's resources was submitted in any case.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_02_B5203; source_row=17820
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

The director found that the proposed benefit from employment in the petitioner's occupation is national in scope, and AAO did not disturb this finding.

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The director found that the proposed benefit from employment in the petitioner's occupation is national in scope, and AAO did not disturb this finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-09_11_B5203; source_row=17838
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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