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 20291–20300

NIWNIW · Well positionedNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's work, while valuable to specific individuals and projects, did not have a wider effect beyond the individual children she assisted. Future plans were conditional and speculative, and a claimed shortage of workers is not grounds for approving the waiver.

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AAO found that the petitioner's work, while valuable to specific individuals and projects, did not have a wider effect beyond the individual children she assisted. Future plans were conditional and speculative, and a claimed shortage of workers is not grounds for approving the waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17773
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's short-term employment contracts specify compensation but the petitioner did not claim or establish that these amounts demonstrate exceptional ability.

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The petitioner's short-term employment contracts specify compensation but the petitioner did not claim or establish that these amounts demonstrate exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17779
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not disturb the director's finding that the petitioner's work has substantial intrinsic merit, proceeding to analyze the second and third prongs.

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AAO did not disturb the director's finding that the petitioner's work has substantial intrinsic merit, proceeding to analyze the second and third prongs.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17772
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWacademic recordEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

academic record

official academic record showing degree relating to area of exceptional ability

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner holds a combined bachelor's and master's degree in sculpture, which satisfies the plain wording of the regulation.

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The petitioner holds a combined bachelor's and master's degree in sculpture, which satisfies the plain wording of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17776
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWrecognitionNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

recognition

recognition for achievements and significant contributions to the industry or field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The presidential scholarship was merit-based financial aid for the petitioner's then-ongoing studies, not recognition for achievements or significant contributions to the industry or field.

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The presidential scholarship was merit-based financial aid for the petitioner's then-ongoing studies, not recognition for achievements or significant contributions to the industry or field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17781
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWten years experienceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

ten years experience

ten years of full-time experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner has not specifically documented any full-time employment experience, and the earliest employment-related documentation dates from June 2005, less than seven years before the petition's January 2013 filing date.

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The petitioner has not specifically documented any full-time employment experience, and the earliest employment-related documentation dates from June 2005, less than seven years before the petition's January 2013 filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17777
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWlicense or certificationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

license or certification

license to practice the profession or certification for a particular profession or occupation

Why the evidence was persuasive

A 'Reference' certificate from the Rector conferred on the petitioner the qualification of Professional Artist with the right of pedagogical practice, which appears to satisfy the criterion on its face, though AAO noted it may not demonstrate expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered if all qualified art teachers hold such a credential.

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A 'Reference' certificate from the Rector conferred on the petitioner the qualification of Professional Artist with the right of pedagogical practice, which appears to satisfy the criterion on its face, though AAO noted it may not demonstrate expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered if all qualified art teachers hold such a credential.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-04_01_B5203; source_row=17778
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

labor certification requires advanced degree professional

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the labor certification's stated minimum (Bachelor's plus 24 months experience, with any suitable combination of education and experience accepted) does not require an advanced degree professional, and the petitioner cannot retroactively cure the deficiency through material changes.

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AAO agreed that the labor certification's stated minimum (Bachelor's plus 24 months experience, with any suitable combination of education and experience accepted) does not require an advanced degree professional, and the petitioner cannot retroactively cure the deficiency through material changes.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-03_02_B5203; source_row=17766
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

labor certification requires advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification requires only a bachelor's plus 48 months of experience, which is less than the bachelor's plus 60 months needed for advanced-degree-professional equivalency.

Why this is useful

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The labor certification requires only a bachelor's plus 48 months of experience, which is less than the bachelor's plus 60 months needed for advanced-degree-professional equivalency.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-03_06_B5203; source_row=17768
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the beneficiary's foreign degree is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree per EDGE and does not satisfy the regulatory definition of an advanced degree, and the ETA Form 9089 did not allow the alternate bachelor's-plus-five-years equivalency.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO concluded the beneficiary's foreign degree is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree per EDGE and does not satisfy the regulatory definition of an advanced degree, and the ETA Form 9089 did not allow the alternate bachelor's-plus-five-years equivalency.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2014-04-03_07_B5203; source_row=17770
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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