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.
10,847 decisions /36,849 findings
Showing 21831–21840
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established
Case facts
Medicine / Clinical
Issue evaluated
NIW · EB-2 baseline
Job offer requires a professional holding an advanced degree (8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(4))
Why AAO was not persuaded
Examining the plain language of the certified ETA Form 9089, the alternative requirement of a U.S. bachelor's degree plus three years of experience is less than the regulatory equivalent of an advanced degree (bachelor's plus five years progressive experience), so the job offer does not require an advanced-degree professional.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
Examining the plain language of the certified ETA Form 9089, the alternative requirement of a U.S. bachelor's degree plus three years of experience is less than the regulatory equivalent of an advanced degree (bachelor's plus five years progressive experience), so the job offer does not require an advanced-degree professional.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-15_01_B5203; source_row=16049 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The AAO withdrew the director's favorable finding because the petitioner falsely represented articles authored by others as his own work, and submitted falsified citations. As the articles and citations were not the results of the petitioner's own research and authorship, they cannot serve to meet this criterion.
Why this is useful
See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.
View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's favorable finding because the petitioner falsely represented articles authored by others as his own work, and submitted falsified citations. As the articles and citations were not the results of the petitioner's own research and authorship, they cannot serve to meet this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_01_B2203; source_row=16031 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The AAO agreed that the record lacked evidence showing the claimed awards are nationally or internationally recognized. Additionally, the AAO found all documents submitted for this criterion contained falsified information and therefore could not serve as probative evidence.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO agreed that the record lacked evidence showing the claimed awards are nationally or internationally recognized. Additionally, the AAO found all documents submitted for this criterion contained falsified information and therefore could not serve as probative evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_01_B2203; source_row=16029 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Why AAO was not persuaded
The criterion is limited to the visual arts; a singer's music performances and recordings are audible, not visual displays in the same sense as a painter or sculptor displaying work in a gallery. This interpretation is longstanding and has been upheld by a federal district court.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The criterion is limited to the visual arts; a singer's music performances and recordings are audible, not visual displays in the same sense as a painter or sculptor displaying work in a gallery. This interpretation is longstanding and has been upheld by a federal district court.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_03_B2203; source_row=16044 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of sales or receipts such as contemporaneous financial statements, invoices, residual payment records, album charts, or independent media articles confirming significant sales. The self-serving assertions from music companies that produced the petitioner's recordings were insufficient without supporting documentary evidence.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of sales or receipts such as contemporaneous financial statements, invoices, residual payment records, album charts, or independent media articles confirming significant sales. The self-serving assertions from music companies that produced the petitioner's recordings were insufficient without supporting documentary evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_03_B2203; source_row=16047 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
leading or critical role for distinguished organizations
Why AAO was not persuaded
No organization's letters demonstrated that the petitioner's role was leading or critical: principals' letters failed to describe leading/critical duties relative to other teachers; association letters lacked organizational charts or specific role information; self-promotional website content was disregarded; and no organization established a distinguished reputation through objective documentary evidence.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
No organization's letters demonstrated that the petitioner's role was leading or critical: principals' letters failed to describe leading/critical duties relative to other teachers; association letters lacked organizational charts or specific role information; self-promotional website content was disregarded; and no organization established a distinguished reputation through objective documentary evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_03_B2203; source_row=16045 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements
Why AAO was not persuaded
The associations' membership criteria as described (e.g., being a professional artist, nationally popular, organized, punctual, good presenter, or willing to volunteer) did not equate to 'outstanding achievements' as required by the regulation. Letters from association officers were unsupported by primary evidence such as bylaws, and some letters lacked contact information or merely repeated statutory language.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The associations' membership criteria as described (e.g., being a professional artist, nationally popular, organized, punctual, good presenter, or willing to volunteer) did not equate to 'outstanding achievements' as required by the regulation. Letters from association officers were unsupported by primary evidence such as bylaws, and some letters lacked contact information or merely repeated statutory language.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_03_B2203; source_row=16041 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Published material
published material in major media
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO withdrew the director's finding that this criterion was met. Most submitted articles were about award ceremonies generally and merely mentioned the petitioner among many other recipients rather than being 'about' the petitioner. Many articles lacked required author identification, some lacked dates, and none were accompanied by sufficient circulation data to establish major media status.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO withdrew the director's finding that this criterion was met. Most submitted articles were about award ceremonies generally and merely mentioned the petitioner among many other recipients rather than being 'about' the petitioner. Many articles lacked required author identification, some lacked dates, and none were accompanied by sufficient circulation data to establish major media status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_03_B2203; source_row=16042 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The petitioner did not submit documentary evidence demonstrating that his specific awards were recognized beyond the presenting organizations at a level commensurate with nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards. Nomination certificates did not establish actual receipt of awards, translation deficiencies further undermined the evidence, and self-promotional letters from award organizers were insufficient.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The petitioner did not submit documentary evidence demonstrating that his specific awards were recognized beyond the presenting organizations at a level commensurate with nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards. Nomination certificates did not establish actual receipt of awards, translation deficiencies further undermined the evidence, and self-promotional letters from award organizers were insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_03_B2203; source_row=16040 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
Why AAO was not persuaded
The petitioner provided no comparative earnings data showing that his compensation was significantly high relative to others in the same field during the same period.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The petitioner provided no comparative earnings data showing that his compensation was significantly high relative to others in the same field during the same period.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-14_03_B2203; source_row=16046 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c