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 21861–21870

NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / StatisticsMaster’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker with same minimum qualifications

Why AAO was not persuaded

Certification in multiple subjects does not establish prior impact or influence on the field, nor does exceptional ability (defined as expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered) serve as a presumptive or automatic basis for the waiver. The petitioner submitted no evidence that her triple certification is rare, and her credentials do not show she will significantly benefit students beyond her own.…

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Certification in multiple subjects does not establish prior impact or influence on the field, nor does exceptional ability (defined as expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered) serve as a presumptive or automatic basis for the waiver. The petitioner submitted no evidence that her triple certification is rare, and her credentials do not show she will significantly benefit students beyond her own. The inapplicability of labor certification due to employer debarment cannot itself justify a national interest waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_03_B5203; source_row=16009
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that there is no provision allowing qualification with anything less than a single foreign-equivalent baccalaureate plus five years of progressive experience, and EDGE establishes that the Indian three-year B.S. plus M.S. is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

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AAO held that there is no provision allowing qualification with anything less than a single foreign-equivalent baccalaureate plus five years of progressive experience, and EDGE establishes that the Indian three-year B.S. plus M.S. is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_07_B5203; source_row=16017
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO confirmed the petitioner paid sufficient wages only in 2007, 2009–2011; net income was negative for 2003–2006 and net current assets were also negative for those years; the 2008 shortfall was covered by net income. The proffered unaudited financial statements and bank statements were insufficient evidence.…

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AAO confirmed the petitioner paid sufficient wages only in 2007, 2009–2011; net income was negative for 2003–2006 and net current assets were also negative for those years; the 2008 shortfall was covered by net income. The proffered unaudited financial statements and bank statements were insufficient evidence. Sonegawa totality-of-circumstances analysis did not rescue the petitioner due to lack of demonstrated growth or outstanding reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_02_B5203; source_row=16005
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary qualifications per labor certification as of priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO raised this issue sua sponte on appeal. The employer letters submitted lacked sufficient job duty descriptions, and the beneficiary's part-time employment made it unlikely the required six years of experience were met as of the priority date.

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AAO raised this issue sua sponte on appeal. The employer letters submitted lacked sufficient job duty descriptions, and the beneficiary's part-time employment made it unlikely the required six years of experience were met as of the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_02_B5203; source_row=16006
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that the petitioner's 2011 federal tax return established the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage from the priority date forward.

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The AAO found that the petitioner's 2011 federal tax return established the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage from the priority date forward.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_01_B5203; source_row=16004
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Educational qualification per labor certification

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO concluded it was more likely than not that the beneficiary earned a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and had at least five years of progressive work experience, satisfying the master's equivalent standard.

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The AAO concluded it was more likely than not that the beneficiary earned a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and had at least five years of progressive work experience, satisfying the master's equivalent standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_01_B5203; source_row=16002
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Special skills required in Part H.14 of ETA Form 9089 (Revit, Solid Works, AutoCAD)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the record did not establish the beneficiary possessed the required knowledge of Revit, Solid Works, and AutoCAD software listed as special skills on the labor certification, rendering the petition currently unapprovable.

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The AAO found that the record did not establish the beneficiary possessed the required knowledge of Revit, Solid Works, and AutoCAD software listed as special skills on the labor certification, rendering the petition currently unapprovable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_01_B5203; source_row=16003
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

Counsel conflated the national importance of 'education' as a concept with the impact of one teacher; the undeniable importance of education as a whole does not imply that Congress has indirectly exempted teachers from the job offer requirement.

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Counsel conflated the national importance of 'education' as a concept with the impact of one teacher; the undeniable importance of education as a whole does not imply that Congress has indirectly exempted teachers from the job offer requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_04_B5203; source_row=16011
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why AAO was not persuaded

While education broadly has intrinsic merit, the petitioner's work as an individual teacher did not self-evidently set her apart from other competent teachers, and submitted materials only demonstrated she is a successful teacher.

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While education broadly has intrinsic merit, the petitioner's work as an individual teacher did not self-evidently set her apart from other competent teachers, and submitted materials only demonstrated she is a successful teacher.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_04_B5203; source_row=16010
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Physics

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO did not dispute the substantial intrinsic merit of the petitioner's field of work; this prong was conceded by the director and not contested on appeal.

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AAO did not dispute the substantial intrinsic merit of the petitioner's field of work; this prong was conceded by the director and not contested on appeal.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-03-08_05_B5203; source_row=16013
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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