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 21231–21240

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets MBA requirement on ETA Form 9089

Why AAO was not persuaded

Part H of the labor certification requires an MBA with no alternate combination acceptable; because the beneficiary's degree is from an unaccredited institution, it does not qualify as a U.S. MBA, and the beneficiary therefore fails the labor certification's educational requirement.

Why this is useful

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

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Part H of the labor certification requires an MBA with no alternate combination acceptable; because the beneficiary's degree is from an unaccredited institution, it does not qualify as a U.S. MBA, and the beneficiary therefore fails the labor certification's educational requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-10_01_B5203; source_row=16729
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other98 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

The AAO declined to conduct a final merits determination because the petitioner failed to satisfy the antecedent requirement of qualifying evidence under at least three criteria.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO declined to conduct a final merits determination because the petitioner failed to satisfy the antecedent requirement of qualifying evidence under at least three criteria.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-10_01_B2203; source_row=16727
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other98 citations

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Only three of the petitioner's articles garnered moderate citation, and the citations generally provide background information rather than demonstrating reliance on the petitioner's findings. Expert letters described future potential impact rather than present-day significance, and published coverage was brief without showing how the field was utilizing the results.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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Only three of the petitioner's articles garnered moderate citation, and the citations generally provide background information rather than demonstrating reliance on the petitioner's findings. Expert letters described future potential impact rather than present-day significance, and published coverage was brief without showing how the field was utilizing the results.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-10_01_B2203; source_row=16725
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO concluded the petitioner showed no track record establishing she would serve the national interest more than other qualified ESL teachers, and that labor shortage claims must be addressed through labor certification.

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 concluded the petitioner showed no track record establishing she would serve the national interest more than other qualified ESL teachers, and that labor shortage claims must be addressed through labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-08_01_B5203; source_row=16721
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 acknowledged that the petitioner's assertions addressed the intrinsic merit of ESL education, the first prong of NYSDOT.

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 acknowledged that the petitioner's assertions addressed the intrinsic merit of ESL education, the first prong of NYSDOT.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-08_01_B5203; source_row=16719
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 agreed the petitioner's work as a local ESL teacher was not national in scope, and that the 2012 MSA results did not show she had effectively closed the achievement gap.

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 agreed the petitioner's work as a local ESL teacher was not national in scope, and that the 2012 MSA results did not show she had effectively closed the achievement gap.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-08_01_B5203; source_row=16720
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Social SciencesBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO rejected counsel's unsupported claim that foreign teachers are superior to U.S. workers, noting it lacks evidentiary support. AAO also found the petitioner had already obtained an approved labor certification and approved petition under EB-3, showing labor certification was achievable. The petitioner did not show her 'Highly Qualified' credentials imposed requirements significantly more stringent than DOL minimums.

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 rejected counsel's unsupported claim that foreign teachers are superior to U.S. workers, noting it lacks evidentiary support. AAO also found the petitioner had already obtained an approved labor certification and approved petition under EB-3, showing labor certification was achievable. The petitioner did not show her 'Highly Qualified' credentials imposed requirements significantly more stringent than DOL minimums.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-05_01_B5203; source_row=16718
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social SciencesBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

What the decision said

AAO did not separately analyze whether the petitioner's work has substantial intrinsic merit, proceeding to find the petition fails on other grounds.

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 whether the petitioner's work has substantial intrinsic merit, proceeding to find the petition fails on other grounds.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-05_01_B5203; source_row=16716
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 that counsel's arguments about the NCLBA and national educational interests do not establish that this petitioner's individual contributions are national in scope. The NCLBA did not amend the immigration statute, and the key NYSDOT provision requires a record of influence on the field as a whole, which the petitioner did not demonstrate.

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 that counsel's arguments about the NCLBA and national educational interests do not establish that this petitioner's individual contributions are national in scope. The NCLBA did not amend the immigration statute, and the key NYSDOT provision requires a record of influence on the field as a whole, which the petitioner did not demonstrate.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-07-05_01_B5203; source_row=16717
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent degree to U.S. baccalaureate

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO affirmed that no single credential constitutes a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate. The B.A. was a two-year degree in social sciences, not a four-year engineering degree. The AACRAO evaluation confirmed the B.A. is comparable to only two to three years of undergraduate study in the U.S. The Institution of Engineers examination certificate, though AACRAO rated it comparable to a U.S.…

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO affirmed that no single credential constitutes a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate. The B.A. was a two-year degree in social sciences, not a four-year engineering degree. The AACRAO evaluation confirmed the B.A. is comparable to only two to three years of undergraduate study in the U.S. The Institution of Engineers examination certificate, though AACRAO rated it comparable to a U.S. engineering bachelor's, is not a degree from a college or university and therefore cannot qualify as a 'foreign equivalent degree' under the regulations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-28_07_B5203; source_row=16707
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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