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 21281–21290

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Compliance with Schedule A notice of filing requirement

Why AAO was not persuaded

The notice provided a web link rather than the Certifying Officer's physical address as required by 20 C.F.R. § 656.10(d)(3)(iii). Additionally, the notice failed to indicate where it was posted, which is particularly problematic given the petitioner's status as a contractor.

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The notice provided a web link rather than the Certifying Officer's physical address as required by 20 C.F.R. § 656.10(d)(3)(iii). Additionally, the notice failed to indicate where it was posted, which is particularly problematic given the petitioner's status as a contractor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-25_03_B5203; source_row=16666
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage as of priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner relied on financial documents from related entities rather than its own, and failed to establish its subsidiary relationship with those entities through official documentation. No acceptable evidence of the petitioner's own financial ability was submitted.

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The petitioner relied on financial documents from related entities rather than its own, and failed to establish its subsidiary relationship with those entities through official documentation. No acceptable evidence of the petitioner's own financial ability was submitted.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-25_03_B5203; source_row=16667
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO acknowledged that the record contains a diploma, transcript, and credential evaluation establishing the beneficiary has the foreign equivalent of a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy.

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AAO acknowledged that the record contains a diploma, transcript, and credential evaluation establishing the beneficiary has the foreign equivalent of a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-25_04_B5203; source_row=16668
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment letters were internally inconsistent and contradicted the beneficiary's sworn statements on the labor certification and resume, with job titles, duties, and employment dates changing between letters.…

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The employment letters were internally inconsistent and contradicted the beneficiary's sworn statements on the labor certification and resume, with job titles, duties, and employment dates changing between letters. The experience gained while the beneficiary was outsourced by the petitioner to eight client sites could not be credited because no independent objective evidence detailed her specific job duties at each site or confirmed they were not substantially comparable to the proffered position.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-25_04_B5203; source_row=16669
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary possesses the minimum education required by the labor certification (bachelor's degree in business administration or foreign equivalent)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's formal education amounts only to vocational high school level per EDGE; the credential evaluators improperly applied the H-1B experience-for-education equivalency rule (3 years experience = 1 year education), which does not apply to immigrant petitions. A beneficiary must possess a single-source foreign equivalent degree to a U.S.…

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The beneficiary's formal education amounts only to vocational high school level per EDGE; the credential evaluators improperly applied the H-1B experience-for-education equivalency rule (3 years experience = 1 year education), which does not apply to immigrant petitions. A beneficiary must possess a single-source foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate; work experience alone or a combination of lesser credentials cannot satisfy this requirement. The petitioner offered no reliable, peer-reviewed evidence to overcome EDGE's conclusions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-24_01_B5203; source_row=16664
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

Original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

A 'substantive contribution to the field' required for S.J.D. graduation does not rise to the level of a contribution of 'major significance.' The articles and conference presentation post-dated the filing date. There was no evidence that the petitioner's research was heavily cited, of major influence, or otherwise indicative of major significance.

Why this is useful

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

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A 'substantive contribution to the field' required for S.J.D. graduation does not rise to the level of a contribution of 'major significance.' The articles and conference presentation post-dated the filing date. There was no evidence that the petitioner's research was heavily cited, of major influence, or otherwise indicative of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-21_02_B2203; source_row=16646
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

Leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's ABA council membership and UN representative roles were not shown to be leading or critical to the ABA or NYCBA as a whole. Most relevant evidence post-dated the filing date. The petitioner failed to show how his roles differentiated him from numerous other council members or that he was responsible for the success or standing of the organizations.

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The petitioner's ABA council membership and UN representative roles were not shown to be leading or critical to the ABA or NYCBA as a whole. Most relevant evidence post-dated the filing date. The petitioner failed to show how his roles differentiated him from numerous other council members or that he was responsible for the success or standing of the organizations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-21_02_B2203; source_row=16648
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

Published material about the alien in professional or major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The article authored by the petitioner is material written by him rather than published material about him, so it does not meet the plain language of the criterion. The conference article post-dated the filing date and lacked an identified author. Additionally, the criterion requires published material in the plural, and the petitioner offered only one qualifying publication.

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The article authored by the petitioner is material written by him rather than published material about him, so it does not meet the plain language of the criterion. The conference article post-dated the filing date and lacked an identified author. Additionally, the criterion requires published material in the plural, and the petitioner offered only one qualifying publication.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-21_02_B2203; source_row=16644
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Major awardNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Major award

One-time major internationally recognized award

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner did not receive the academy diploma at the time of filing; subsequent attendance and candidacy post-dated the filing date. Nomination or finalist status is not equivalent to a major internationally recognized award, and the petitioner's selection to attend summer courses is evidence of educational pursuit, not a qualifying one-time achievement.

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The petitioner did not receive the academy diploma at the time of filing; subsequent attendance and candidacy post-dated the filing date. Nomination or finalist status is not equivalent to a major internationally recognized award, and the petitioner's selection to attend summer courses is evidence of educational pursuit, not a qualifying one-time achievement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-21_02_B2203; source_row=16641
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

Prizes or awards for excellence in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

An academic doctoral degree is an educational qualification, not a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award for excellence. The degree was limited to students enrolled at one institution, and the petitioner failed to show national or international recognition of the academic accomplishment. Additionally, the regulation requires plural prizes or awards and the petitioner offered only one.

Why this is useful

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

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An academic doctoral degree is an educational qualification, not a nationally or internationally recognized prize or award for excellence. The degree was limited to students enrolled at one institution, and the petitioner failed to show national or international recognition of the academic accomplishment. Additionally, the regulation requires plural prizes or awards and the petitioner offered only one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-06-21_02_B2203; source_row=16642
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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