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 20961–20970

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 impact as a special educator was limited to the students at her school and not national in scope. General arguments about the national importance of education or the NCLBA did not establish that one teacher's work produces benefits that are national in scope, and a local-scale contribution to a national effort does not meet the NYSDOT threshold.

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AAO found that the petitioner's impact as a special educator was limited to the students at her school and not national in scope. General arguments about the national importance of education or the NCLBA did not establish that one teacher's work produces benefits that are national in scope, and a local-scale contribution to a national effort does not meet the NYSDOT threshold.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_03_B5203; source_row=17041
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that counsel's unsubstantiated assertions about the petitioner's passion and qualifications did not distinguish her from other qualified special education teachers, and that the petitioner's evidence of awards, evaluations, and reference letters failed to show influence on the field as a whole. AAO also noted that counsel's own statistics showed the average U.S.…

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AAO found that counsel's unsubstantiated assertions about the petitioner's passion and qualifications did not distinguish her from other qualified special education teachers, and that the petitioner's evidence of awards, evaluations, and reference letters failed to show influence on the field as a whole. AAO also noted that counsel's own statistics showed the average U.S. special education teacher has higher academic credentials than the petitioner, as 59% of U.S. special educators hold master's degrees while the petitioner had not established she held one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_05_B5203; source_row=17048
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed that the petitioner's work as a special education teacher is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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AAO agreed that the petitioner's work as a special education teacher is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_05_B5203; source_row=17046
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the petitioner's evidence did not show that her work had any impact beyond the local schools where she worked, and that general arguments about the importance of special education could not establish that her individual contributions were national in scope.…

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

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AAO found that the petitioner's evidence did not show that her work had any impact beyond the local schools where she worked, and that general arguments about the importance of special education could not establish that her individual contributions were national in scope. The NYSDOT decision itself cited school teachers as an example of a profession where individual workers generally do not produce benefits that are national in scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_05_B5203; source_row=17047
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO expressly accepted that mathematics, science, and physics teaching is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.

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AAO expressly accepted that mathematics, science, and physics teaching is in an area of substantial intrinsic merit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_02_B5203; source_row=17037
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded that reference letters and evidence demonstrated only local or institutional impact at the schools where the petitioner worked, not benefits national in scope. NYSDOT itself cites school teachers as an example of a field whose individual workers generally do not produce benefits that are national in scope.

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AAO concluded that reference letters and evidence demonstrated only local or institutional impact at the schools where the petitioner worked, not benefits national in scope. NYSDOT itself cites school teachers as an example of a field whose individual workers generally do not produce benefits that are national in scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-08_02_B5203; source_row=17038
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner's W-2 wages fell short of the proffered wage every year; net income was negative every year; and no net current assets were shown. AAO rejected the corporate veil argument as inconsistent with the separate-entity doctrine, distinguished and declined to follow BALCA decisions, and found Masonry Masters inapplicable because no difference between the proffered and prevailing wage was shown.

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AAO found the petitioner's W-2 wages fell short of the proffered wage every year; net income was negative every year; and no net current assets were shown. AAO rejected the corporate veil argument as inconsistent with the separate-entity doctrine, distinguished and declined to follow BALCA decisions, and found Masonry Masters inapplicable because no difference between the proffered and prevailing wage was shown.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-03_01_B5203; source_row=17031
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Five years of post-baccalaureate progressive experience in the specialty and five additional years in the proffered position

Why AAO was not persuaded

The experience letters were internally inconsistent with the labor certification and resume regarding employer names, job titles, and dates of employment. The letters also lacked required information such as employer address and signatory title. AAO concluded the submitted letters did not establish five years of post-baccalaureate progressive experience, nor the additional five years of experience in the proffered position.

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The experience letters were internally inconsistent with the labor certification and resume regarding employer names, job titles, and dates of employment. The letters also lacked required information such as employer address and signatory title. AAO concluded the submitted letters did not establish five years of post-baccalaureate progressive experience, nor the additional five years of experience in the proffered position.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-03_01_B5203; source_row=17033
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Foreign equivalent of U.S. bachelor's or advanced degree in required field

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that the beneficiary's three-year Indian B.S. in statistics is equivalent only to three years of U.S. undergraduate study. Using AACRAO EDGE, the M.S. in statistics is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, and the postgraduate diploma in computer science (following the three-year B.S.) is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The three credential evaluations were inconsistent with each other.…

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AAO found that the beneficiary's three-year Indian B.S. in statistics is equivalent only to three years of U.S. undergraduate study. Using AACRAO EDGE, the M.S. in statistics is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, and the postgraduate diploma in computer science (following the three-year B.S.) is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The three credential evaluations were inconsistent with each other. The beneficiary therefore holds only the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in computer science, not a master's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-03_01_B5203; source_row=17032
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

Even accepting the petitioner's intent to withdraw the other sponsored workers, the petitioner must still demonstrate ability to pay each sponsored worker from their respective priority dates to the date of withdrawal. Without evidence of those priority dates and proffered wages, total wage obligations cannot be assessed.…

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Even accepting the petitioner's intent to withdraw the other sponsored workers, the petitioner must still demonstrate ability to pay each sponsored worker from their respective priority dates to the date of withdrawal. Without evidence of those priority dates and proffered wages, total wage obligations cannot be assessed. The petitioner's financials showed declining receipts and no unusual circumstances warranting a Sonegawa-style exception.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-10-02_01_B5203; source_row=17029
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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