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 20761–20770

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker with same minimum qualifications

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's credentials (full certification held by 92% of special educators, post-baccalaureate equivalent rather than a master's degree) do not differentiate her substantially from available U.S. workers. Unsupported assertions of counsel about the superiority of the petitioner or foreign teachers as a class do not constitute evidence.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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AAO found that the petitioner's credentials (full certification held by 92% of special educators, post-baccalaureate equivalent rather than a master's degree) do not differentiate her substantially from available U.S. workers. Unsupported assertions of counsel about the superiority of the petitioner or foreign teachers as a class do not constitute evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_01_B5203; source_row=17267
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

What the decision said

AAO did not separately analyze the first prong, focusing its analysis on national scope and the third NYSDOT factor.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO did not separately analyze the first prong, focusing its analysis on national scope and the third NYSDOT factor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_01_B5203; source_row=17265
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 does not disturb the director's finding that elementary school teaching has substantial intrinsic merit.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO does not disturb the director's finding that elementary school teaching has substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B5203; source_row=17276
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

AAO agrees the petitioner's work is local in nature; awards and witness letters did not establish impact beyond the local level. NYSDOT itself cites elementary school teachers as an example of an occupation lacking national scope.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO agrees the petitioner's work is local in nature; awards and witness letters did not establish impact beyond the local level. NYSDOT itself cites elementary school teachers as an example of an occupation lacking national scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-25_02_B5203; source_row=17277
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although net income and net current assets exceeded the proffered wage in some years, the petitioner had filed multiple immigrant petitions and submitted no evidence of ability to pay all sponsored beneficiaries, nor any evidence for 2007–2012.

Why this is useful

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

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Although net income and net current assets exceeded the proffered wage in some years, the petitioner had filed multiple immigrant petitions and submitted no evidence of ability to pay all sponsored beneficiaries, nor any evidence for 2007–2012.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-22_04_B5203; source_row=17257
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

two years experience as a cook as of priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment letter was deficient and inconsistencies among the labor certification and two G-325A forms regarding the beneficiary's prior employment dates were unresolved.

Why this is useful

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

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The employment letter was deficient and inconsistencies among the labor certification and two G-325A forms regarding the beneficiary's prior employment dates were unresolved.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-22_04_B5203; source_row=17258
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

beneficiary holds an advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that a degree from an unaccredited institution does not qualify under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2), and that SEVP approval and California state operating approval do not equate to accreditation by a recognized agency.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that a degree from an unaccredited institution does not qualify under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2), and that SEVP approval and California state operating approval do not equate to accreditation by a recognized agency.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-21_01_B5203; source_row=17252
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Possession of an advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

EDGE states the Indian Master of Commerce is only comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a U.S. master's degree. The expert letters were unpersuasive because the Indian program is built on a three-year bachelor's, unlike the four-year bachelor's that underlies comparable five-year programs in the U.S. and other countries cited by experts. No expert opinion can supersede EDGE's peer-reviewed conclusions.

Why this is useful

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

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EDGE states the Indian Master of Commerce is only comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, not a U.S. master's degree. The expert letters were unpersuasive because the Indian program is built on a three-year bachelor's, unlike the four-year bachelor's that underlies comparable five-year programs in the U.S. and other countries cited by experts. No expert opinion can supersede EDGE's peer-reviewed conclusions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-21_02_B5203; source_row=17255
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets minimum requirements of offered position by priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the beneficiary did not satisfy the labor certification's Master's degree requirement.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed the beneficiary did not satisfy the labor certification's Master's degree requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-21_01_B5203; source_row=17253
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay the proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the new evidence sufficient and withdrew its prior adverse finding on ability to pay.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found the new evidence sufficient and withdrew its prior adverse finding on ability to pay.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-11-21_01_B5203; source_row=17254
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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