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 20741–20750

NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's reference letters and awards were limited to local, regional, or institutional significance and did not show that the benefits of her work extended beyond her school or local district. AAO cited the NYSDOT example that while education is in the national interest, the impact of a single schoolteacher in one elementary school is not national in scope for waiver purposes.

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AAO found that the petitioner's reference letters and awards were limited to local, regional, or institutional significance and did not show that the benefits of her work extended beyond her school or local district. AAO cited the NYSDOT example that while education is in the national interest, the impact of a single schoolteacher in one elementary school is not national in scope for waiver purposes.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-27_07_B5203; source_row=17303
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 accepted that work as a special educator and hearing resource teacher is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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AAO accepted that work as a special educator and hearing resource teacher is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-27_07_B5203; source_row=17302
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

No financial documents were submitted and the petitioner did not respond to the NOID requesting ability-to-pay evidence. Neither wages paid to the beneficiary, net income, nor net current assets were established.

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No financial documents were submitted and the petitioner did not respond to the NOID requesting ability-to-pay evidence. Neither wages paid to the beneficiary, net income, nor net current assets were established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-27_06_B5203; source_row=17301
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets minimum requirements of labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

Experience with the petitioner cannot be used because the beneficiary performed the same duties as the offered position and Q J.21 was answered 'no', and the labor cert bars alternate occupation experience. No experience letter from the listed prior employer was provided even after NOID.

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Experience with the petitioner cannot be used because the beneficiary performed the same duties as the offered position and Q J.21 was answered 'no', and the labor cert bars alternate occupation experience. No experience letter from the listed prior employer was provided even after NOID.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-27_06_B5203; source_row=17300
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

advanced degree and experience as of priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO determined upon full record review that the beneficiary possessed an advanced degree and the required work experience as of the priority date of July 24, 2012.

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AAO determined upon full record review that the beneficiary possessed an advanced degree and the required work experience as of the priority date of July 24, 2012.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-27_01_B5203; source_row=17292
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner failed to show that the benefits of her work as an elementary school teacher would extend beyond her local school and school district to have a national impact. General arguments about the importance of education and NCLBA only address intrinsic merit and do not establish national scope for an individual teacher's work.…

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The petitioner failed to show that the benefits of her work as an elementary school teacher would extend beyond her local school and school district to have a national impact. General arguments about the importance of education and NCLBA only address intrinsic merit and do not establish national scope for an individual teacher's work. The 2012 MSA results cited by counsel actually reflected low rankings for the petitioner's district, undermining the claim of effective national impact.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-27_09_B5203; source_row=17306
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 agreed that elementary school teaching, particularly special education, is an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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AAO agreed that elementary school teaching, particularly special education, is an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-27_09_B5203; source_row=17305
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

labor certification supports advanced degree professional classification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found Kellogg language was not required because the beneficiary qualifies based on the primary requirement, and that the language at issue is not actually Kellogg language. Even under counsel's interpretation, the H.14 language would allow qualification with less than a bachelor's plus five years' experience or a master's, so the labor certification does not support the EB-2 advanced degree professional category.

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AAO found Kellogg language was not required because the beneficiary qualifies based on the primary requirement, and that the language at issue is not actually Kellogg language. Even under counsel's interpretation, the H.14 language would allow qualification with less than a bachelor's plus five years' experience or a master's, so the labor certification does not support the EB-2 advanced degree professional category.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-26_02_B5203; source_row=17279
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the petitioner had not demonstrated continuing ability to pay because the record contains no evidence of wages paid to or proffered wages and priority dates of the 18 additional sponsored workers, and excess payments to some workers do not establish funds available to pay others.

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AAO agreed that the petitioner had not demonstrated continuing ability to pay because the record contains no evidence of wages paid to or proffered wages and priority dates of the 18 additional sponsored workers, and excess payments to some workers do not establish funds available to pay others.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-26_02_B5203; source_row=17280
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets experience requirements of the labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the experience letter from the prior employer described duties of a System Network Engineer rather than a Business Development Specialist, and the petitioner's own president confirmed the two positions were completely different. Additionally, an unresolved discrepancy between the Pakistan experience letter and other record documents prevented reliance on that experience.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found that the experience letter from the prior employer described duties of a System Network Engineer rather than a Business Development Specialist, and the petitioner's own president confirmed the two positions were completely different. Additionally, an unresolved discrepancy between the Pakistan experience letter and other record documents prevented reliance on that experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-26_03_B5203; source_row=17281
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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