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 22031–22040

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO disagreed with the director's finding that the petitioner judged students not in the field, finding instead that the record contains sufficient evidence the petitioner judged the work of others specializing in robotics, his field of expertise.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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The AAO disagreed with the director's finding that the petitioner judged students not in the field, finding instead that the record contains sufficient evidence the petitioner judged the work of others specializing in robotics, his field of expertise.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-08_01_B2203; source_row=15819
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the FLC data (based on average/median wages) does not establish what constitutes a high salary and thus comparing only base salary to it was not error; the Pay Governance report relies on median compensation data, which likewise does not demonstrate commanding a high salary in relation to others in the field.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the FLC data (based on average/median wages) does not establish what constitutes a high salary and thus comparing only base salary to it was not error; the Pay Governance report relies on median compensation data, which likewise does not demonstrate commanding a high salary in relation to others in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=15811
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's valuation model benefited his employer and its partners but was not shown to have had wide impact or wide adoption in the field; letters praising talent and ability without specific examples of field-wide impact do not satisfy the requirement of contributions 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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The beneficiary's valuation model benefited his employer and its partners but was not shown to have had wide impact or wide adoption in the field; letters praising talent and ability without specific examples of field-wide impact do not satisfy the requirement of contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=15808
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

Regardless of whether the articles are scholarly, they are not in the beneficiary's field of claimed expertise (mortgage backed securities); the submitted articles relate to architectural design rather than the beneficiary's field.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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Regardless of whether the articles are scholarly, they are not in the beneficiary's field of claimed expertise (mortgage backed securities); the submitted articles relate to architectural design rather than the beneficiary's field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=15809
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found, after reviewing all record evidence including materials submitted on appeal and in response to its NOID, that the petitioner had demonstrated the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage from the priority date.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found, after reviewing all record evidence including materials submitted on appeal and in response to its NOID, that the petitioner had demonstrated the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage from the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-06_03_B5203; source_row=15814
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay the proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO concluded that, based on the record including payroll records showing actual payment of the $150,000 proffered wage from the priority date, the petitioner demonstrated ability to pay on a continuing basis, satisfying the prima facie standard.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO concluded that, based on the record including payroll records showing actual payment of the $150,000 proffered wage from the priority date, the petitioner demonstrated ability to pay on a continuing basis, satisfying the prima facie standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-06_02_B5203; source_row=15813
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO affirmed the director's determination that the judging criterion was met.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

View full reasoning +
AAO affirmed the director's determination that the judging criterion was met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-06_01_B2203; source_row=15807
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the beneficiary's Indian education is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, found both credential evaluations deficient and outweighed by EDGE, and held that the bachelor-plus-experience alternative also failed because the record did not establish five years of progressive experience by the priority date.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO agreed that the beneficiary's Indian education is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, found both credential evaluations deficient and outweighed by EDGE, and held that the bachelor-plus-experience alternative also failed because the record did not establish five years of progressive experience by the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-05_03_B5203; source_row=15805
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Single foreign degree equivalent to U.S. baccalaureate

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that a three-year B.Com. is not a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, and combining it with ICAI membership does not produce a single foreign equivalent degree as required by the regulation.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO held that a three-year B.Com. is not a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, and combining it with ICAI membership does not produce a single foreign equivalent degree as required by the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-05_01_B5203; source_row=15804
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

minimum education required by ETA Form 9089

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the beneficiary fails the labor certification's minimum educational requirement because his Indian master's degree is not equivalent to a U.S. master's degree and the labor certification does not permit an alternate combination of education and experience.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed the beneficiary fails the labor certification's minimum educational requirement because his Indian master's degree is not equivalent to a U.S. master's degree and the labor certification does not permit an alternate combination of education and experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-02-05_03_B5203; source_row=15806
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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