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 20951–20960

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via wages paid to beneficiary

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner paid the beneficiary $57,600 in 2012 (against a proffered wage of $67,000), leaving a $9,400 gap, and only $4,721.70 in 2013, leaving a $62,278.30 gap. Prima facie proof of ability to pay was therefore not established.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner paid the beneficiary $57,600 in 2012 (against a proffered wage of $67,000), leaving a $9,400 gap, and only $4,721.70 in 2013, leaving a $62,278.30 gap. Prima facie proof of ability to pay was therefore not established.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-09_02_B5203; source_row=17060
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via net income

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's 2012 Schedule C showed net income of -$108,977, which was insufficient to cover even the $9,400 gap between wages paid and the proffered wage.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner's 2012 Schedule C showed net income of -$108,977, which was insufficient to cover even the $9,400 gap between wages paid and the proffered wage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-09_02_B5203; source_row=17061
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social SciencesBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serve national interest to substantially greater degree than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found no evidence that the petitioner has impacted the field of special education to a substantially greater degree than other similarly qualified teachers, that her awards had only local or institutional significance, and that the NCLBA does not create a blanket waiver. AAO further noted that the petitioner already had an approved labor certification, contradicting counsel's claims about labor-cert inadequacy.

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 no evidence that the petitioner has impacted the field of special education to a substantially greater degree than other similarly qualified teachers, that her awards had only local or institutional significance, and that the NCLBA does not create a blanket waiver. AAO further noted that the petitioner already had an approved labor certification, contradicting counsel's claims about labor-cert inadequacy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_04_B5203; source_row=17045
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest served to substantially greater degree than available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's evidence of achievements, awards, and publications did not show that she had influenced the field of special education as a whole or impacted it to a substantially greater degree than other similarly qualified special education teachers. Teacher shortages are addressed by the labor certification process and do not establish eligibility for the waiver.

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 evidence of achievements, awards, and publications did not show that she had influenced the field of special education as a whole or impacted it to a substantially greater degree than other similarly qualified special education teachers. Teacher shortages are addressed by the labor certification process and do not establish eligibility for the waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_03_B5203; source_row=17042
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serve national interest to a substantially greater degree than an available U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held the petitioner's awards were regional/local/institutional, her co-authorship contribution was not shown to have national influence, and arguments about teacher shortages or NCLBA 'highly qualified teacher' status do not establish individual eligibility for the waiver. The temporary debarment of her employer from filing labor certifications cannot substitute for a showing of individual qualifications surpassing U.S.…

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 held the petitioner's awards were regional/local/institutional, her co-authorship contribution was not shown to have national influence, and arguments about teacher shortages or NCLBA 'highly qualified teacher' status do not establish individual eligibility for the waiver. The temporary debarment of her employer from filing labor certifications cannot substitute for a showing of individual qualifications surpassing U.S. workers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_02_B5203; source_row=17039
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the benefits of the petitioner's work as a single school teacher would be limited to her students and so attenuated at the national level as to be negligible, citing NYSDOT footnote 3 which uses school teachers as an example of work that is not national in 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 found the benefits of the petitioner's work as a single school teacher would be limited to her students and so attenuated at the national level as to be negligible, citing NYSDOT footnote 3 which uses school teachers as an example of work that is not national in scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_04_B5203; source_row=17044
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that special education is an area of 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 agreed that special education is an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_04_B5203; source_row=17043
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the petitioner's work in the financial field is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit, and that at least one reference letter confirmed she works in such an area.

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 agreed that the petitioner's work in the financial field is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit, and that at least one reference letter confirmed she works in such an area.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_01_B5203; source_row=17034
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

benefit national interest to a substantially greater degree than U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that reference letters praised the petitioner's knowledge and skills but did not set her apart from other competent financial analysts or explain how her work impacted the field beyond individual clients and employers. Her claimed achievements either lacked documentary support or post-dated the petition filing. A shortage of qualified workers is a Department of Labor matter.

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 reference letters praised the petitioner's knowledge and skills but did not set her apart from other competent financial analysts or explain how her work impacted the field beyond individual clients and employers. Her claimed achievements either lacked documentary support or post-dated the petition filing. A shortage of qualified workers is a Department of Labor matter.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_01_B5203; source_row=17036
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that none of the submitted documentation demonstrated that the petitioner's work as a financial analyst would produce benefits national in scope, and that the impact of her work as a financial analyst would be limited to her employer and its clients, so attenuated at the national level as to be negligible.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found that none of the submitted documentation demonstrated that the petitioner's work as a financial analyst would produce benefits national in scope, and that the impact of her work as a financial analyst would be limited to her employer and its clients, so attenuated at the national level as to be negligible.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_01_B5203; source_row=17035
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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