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 21821–21830

NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's website lacked evidence of widespread use; his publications were internal school journals of very limited circulation; and his impact was confined to the local schools and districts where he personally worked, not demonstrating 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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The petitioner's website lacked evidence of widespread use; his publications were internal school journals of very limited circulation; and his impact was confined to the local schools and districts where he personally worked, not demonstrating national scope.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_02_B5203; source_row=16051
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO acknowledged that publications and presentations provide benefits national in scope, but emphasized this only matters if the petitioner continues to perform research.

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 acknowledged that publications and presentations provide benefits national in scope, but emphasized this only matters if the petitioner continues to perform research.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_08_B5203; source_row=16069
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

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

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the citation record thin (largely tied to one literature-review article), found the witness letters generalized and partially boilerplate, found that the Merci device usage claim was undermined by prior published reports by others, and concluded that learning advanced procedures and teaching them to peers does not equate to innovation.…

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 the citation record thin (largely tied to one literature-review article), found the witness letters generalized and partially boilerplate, found that the Merci device usage claim was undermined by prior published reports by others, and concluded that learning advanced procedures and teaching them to peers does not equate to innovation. AAO also found the petitioner's status as a junior resident inconsistent with claims of being among the nation's top specialists.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_08_B5203; source_row=16070
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not separately contest substantial intrinsic merit of neurosurgery and related research.

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 contest substantial intrinsic merit of neurosurgery and related research.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_08_B5203; source_row=16068
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via net income

Why AAO was not persuaded

Although the petitioner's 2007 net income of $116,299 nominally exceeded the proffered wage, when the aggregate salary shortfall of approximately $188,094 for 9 other simultaneously pending petitions is considered, the net income is insufficient to cover all obligations.

Why this is useful

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

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Although the petitioner's 2007 net income of $116,299 nominally exceeded the proffered wage, when the aggregate salary shortfall of approximately $188,094 for 9 other simultaneously pending petitions is considered, the net income is insufficient to cover all obligations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_05_B5203; source_row=16060
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via wages actually paid to beneficiary

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner paid the beneficiary only $67,295.50 in 2007, which was $2,704.50 less than the $70,000 proffered wage. Full payment was established only for 2008–2011.

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 only $67,295.50 in 2007, which was $2,704.50 less than the $70,000 proffered wage. Full payment was established only for 2008–2011.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_05_B5203; source_row=16059
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via net current assets

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's 2007 net current assets of $102,112 nominally exceeded the individual proffered wage shortfall, but the combined shortfall of $188,094 for all simultaneously pending petitions exceeded net current assets as well.

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 2007 net current assets of $102,112 nominally exceeded the individual proffered wage shortfall, but the combined shortfall of $188,094 for all simultaneously pending petitions exceeded net current assets as well.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_05_B5203; source_row=16061
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via totality of circumstances (Matter of Sonegawa)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO considered broader business factors under Sonegawa but found no evidence of significant growth, outstanding business reputation, or uncharacteristic expenditures. The presence of dozens of simultaneous immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions further undermined the petitioner's financial credibility.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO considered broader business factors under Sonegawa but found no evidence of significant growth, outstanding business reputation, or uncharacteristic expenditures. The presence of dozens of simultaneous immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions further undermined the petitioner's financial credibility.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_05_B5203; source_row=16062
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary qualifications per labor certification requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification required a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, 60 months of experience as a structural engineer, and a Connecticut professional engineering license. The record contained multiple inconsistent employment dates across Forms 9089 (signed under penalty of perjury), Form G-325A, and employer letters, and the beneficiary failed to resolve these with independent objective evidence.

Why this is useful

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

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The labor certification required a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, 60 months of experience as a structural engineer, and a Connecticut professional engineering license. The record contained multiple inconsistent employment dates across Forms 9089 (signed under penalty of perjury), Form G-325A, and employer letters, and the beneficiary failed to resolve these with independent objective evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_06_B5203; source_row=16064
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Civil / Structural EngineeringEngineer

Issue evaluated

other

Section 204(c) marriage fraud bar

Why the evidence was persuasive

Under the correct substantial and probative evidence standard from Matter of Tawfik, the record supports a finding of marriage fraud. The petitioning spouse twice withdrew I-130 petitions with written statements that the beneficiary married her to remain in the U.S. legally, and the record contains numerous unresolved inconsistencies in the parties' statements about cohabitation.…

Why this is useful

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

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Under the correct substantial and probative evidence standard from Matter of Tawfik, the record supports a finding of marriage fraud. The petitioning spouse twice withdrew I-130 petitions with written statements that the beneficiary married her to remain in the U.S. legally, and the record contains numerous unresolved inconsistencies in the parties' statements about cohabitation. The beneficiary failed to reconcile these inconsistencies with independent objective evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-18_06_B5203; source_row=16063
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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