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 22091–22100

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive experience in the specialty by priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The work experience letters document only approximately four years of experience following the award of the beneficiary's Indian bachelor's degree, falling short of the required five years by the April 5, 2010 priority date.

Why this is useful

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The work experience letters document only approximately four years of experience following the award of the beneficiary's Indian bachelor's degree, falling short of the required five years by the April 5, 2010 priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_15_B5203; source_row=15743
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign equivalent degree (baccalaureate or above)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO gave greater weight to EDGE/AACRAO peer-reviewed information over the submitted evaluations, concluding that the Indian M.S. is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The submitted evaluations were not peer-reviewed, did not address actual courses of study, and failed to substantiate the rationale behind credit assignments.

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AAO gave greater weight to EDGE/AACRAO peer-reviewed information over the submitted evaluations, concluding that the Indian M.S. is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The submitted evaluations were not peer-reviewed, did not address actual courses of study, and failed to substantiate the rationale behind credit assignments.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_15_B5203; source_row=15742
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Whether the proffered position involves prohibited physician duties

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed that the job duties in the labor certification describe tasks normally performed by a physician, that counsel's job clarification constituted an impermissible material change, and that the re-categorization of the position from biochemist to medical scientist was a further impermissible material change. The beneficiary does not qualify for admission as a practicing physician.

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The AAO agreed that the job duties in the labor certification describe tasks normally performed by a physician, that counsel's job clarification constituted an impermissible material change, and that the re-categorization of the position from biochemist to medical scientist was a further impermissible material change. The beneficiary does not qualify for admission as a practicing physician.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_03_B5203; source_row=15728
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

specific identification of erroneous conclusion of law or fact

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner merely resubmitted the prior RFE-response language and did not identify any specific error in the director's denial.

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Petitioner merely resubmitted the prior RFE-response language and did not identify any specific error in the director's denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_09_B5203; source_row=15738
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage from priority date forward

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's W-2 wages fell short of the proffered wage every year. The petitioner's net income and net current assets were also insufficient to cover the deficiency in 2010, no 2011 tax return was filed, and no totality-of-circumstances factors paralleling Sonegawa were shown.

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The beneficiary's W-2 wages fell short of the proffered wage every year. The petitioner's net income and net current assets were also insufficient to cover the deficiency in 2010, no 2011 tax return was filed, and no totality-of-circumstances factors paralleling Sonegawa were shown.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_17_B5203; source_row=15745
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

What the decision said

The AAO did not separately address this prong; the decision focused its analysis on whether the petitioner had shown a substantial impact greater than an available U.S. worker.

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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The AAO did not separately address this prong; the decision focused its analysis on whether the petitioner had shown a substantial impact greater than an available U.S. worker.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_08_B5203; source_row=15735
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

What the decision said

The AAO did not separately address national scope as a distinct prong; the decision noted the record did not show the petitioner's work attracted any notice outside of Baltimore.

Why this is useful

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The AAO did not separately address national scope as a distinct prong; the decision noted the record did not show the petitioner's work attracted any notice outside of Baltimore.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_08_B5203; source_row=15736
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets labor certification educational requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO determined that because the beneficiary's degree is from an unaccredited institution and therefore does not qualify as a U.S. master's degree, and because he has no foreign equivalent master's degree, he does not meet the educational requirement on the labor certification for the proffered position.

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AAO determined that because the beneficiary's degree is from an unaccredited institution and therefore does not qualify as a U.S. master's degree, and because he has no foreign equivalent master's degree, he does not meet the educational requirement on the labor certification for the proffered position.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_18_B5203; source_row=15747
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted only two pay stubs with dates in mid-2011 and no corporate tax return for 2011. It failed to establish Sonegawa-type factors that would permit a finding of ability to pay despite shortfalls in net income or net current assets, and thus could not demonstrate ability to pay the $104,458 proffered wage from the March 29, 2011 priority date.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner submitted only two pay stubs with dates in mid-2011 and no corporate tax return for 2011. It failed to establish Sonegawa-type factors that would permit a finding of ability to pay despite shortfalls in net income or net current assets, and thus could not demonstrate ability to pay the $104,458 proffered wage from the March 29, 2011 priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_04_B5203; source_row=15730
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary qualifications per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment statements are internally contradictory and conflict with the beneficiary's own declarations on the labor certification, changing job duties, titles, and employment periods from one statement to the next.…

Why this is useful

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

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The employment statements are internally contradictory and conflict with the beneficiary's own declarations on the labor certification, changing job duties, titles, and employment periods from one statement to the next. The affidavits constitute secondary evidence that fails to overcome the unavailability of primary documentation, and the description of work experience is repetitive and fails to establish the required progressive experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-29_04_B5203; source_row=15729
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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