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 22181–22190

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Totality of circumstances (Sonegawa factors)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found no Sonegawa-type facts warranting a favorable totality-of-circumstances finding. Counsel's broad assertion of economic recession impact was unsupported by documentary evidence. Pending work contracts and anticipated future growth could not substitute for demonstrated ability as of the priority date. Unaudited financial statements were rejected as insufficient under the regulation.

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AAO found no Sonegawa-type facts warranting a favorable totality-of-circumstances finding. Counsel's broad assertion of economic recession impact was unsupported by documentary evidence. Pending work contracts and anticipated future growth could not substitute for demonstrated ability as of the priority date. Unaudited financial statements were rejected as insufficient under the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-11_05_B5203; source_row=15649
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2009 Form 1065 showed net income of -$340,908 and net current assets of -$372,961, both insufficient. The AAO rejected each alternative argument: depreciation may not be added back; unaudited financial statements are not reliable; lines of credit are not available funds; bank statements are not enumerated evidence; anticipated income is speculative; and the petitioner did not establish that 2009 losses were uncharacteri…

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The 2009 Form 1065 showed net income of -$340,908 and net current assets of -$372,961, both insufficient. The AAO rejected each alternative argument: depreciation may not be added back; unaudited financial statements are not reliable; lines of credit are not available funds; bank statements are not enumerated evidence; anticipated income is speculative; and the petitioner did not establish that 2009 losses were uncharacteristic. No facts paralleling the Sonegawa exception were shown.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-11_03_B5203; source_row=15645
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets labor certification requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The employment letters submitted are internally contradictory, conflict with the beneficiary's own representations on the ETA Form 9089, and include unexplained overlapping employment periods. These unresolved inconsistencies render the letters unpersuasive, and the beneficiary's qualifying experience cannot be confirmed.

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The employment letters submitted are internally contradictory, conflict with the beneficiary's own representations on the ETA Form 9089, and include unexplained overlapping employment periods. These unresolved inconsistencies render the letters unpersuasive, and the beneficiary's qualifying experience cannot be confirmed.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-11_03_B5203; source_row=15644
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay the proffered wage since the priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found the submitted 2011 tax return and officer affidavits sufficient to establish that the petitioner more likely than not has the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage of $130,000 since the priority date of May 27, 2011.

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The AAO found the submitted 2011 tax return and officer affidavits sufficient to establish that the petitioner more likely than not has the continuing ability to pay the proffered wage of $130,000 since the priority date of May 27, 2011.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-11_01_B5203; source_row=15636
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

What the decision said

Counsel did not challenge the director's conclusion on appeal, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned. AAO also noted independently that the plain language requires plural 'prizes or awards' and a single award does not satisfy the criterion.

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Counsel did not challenge the director's conclusion on appeal, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned. AAO also noted independently that the plain language requires plural 'prizes or awards' and a single award does not satisfy the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-11_02_B2203; source_row=15637
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner's wages of $138,578 (2008) and $146,524 (2009) significantly exceeded the 90th percentile annualized wage of $101,878 for entertainers in Nevada, establishing qualifying evidence under this criterion.

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The petitioner's wages of $138,578 (2008) and $146,524 (2009) significantly exceeded the 90th percentile annualized wage of $101,878 for entertainers in Nevada, establishing qualifying evidence under this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-11_02_B2203; source_row=15642
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner earned $145,293–$146,321 annually, significantly more than the annualized 90th percentile wage of $101,878 for entertainers in Nevada, satisfying the high salary criterion.

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The petitioner earned $145,293–$146,321 annually, significantly more than the annualized 90th percentile wage of $101,878 for entertainers in Nevada, satisfying the high salary criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-11_01_B2203; source_row=15634
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

The tax documents did not establish the source of the income or show how much was salary versus other income, and the petitioner submitted no evidence that the beneficiary's earnings as an executive demonstrate exceptional ability.

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The tax documents did not establish the source of the income or show how much was salary versus other income, and the petitioner submitted no evidence that the beneficiary's earnings as an executive demonstrate exceptional ability.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-10_01_B5203; source_row=15626
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found on de novo review that merely holding an advanced degree is not the standard; the degree must be academically appropriate to the petitioned profession. The beneficiary's degrees in Education and Law were not shown to be required for or appropriate to her intended duties as a chief executive of a multi-service provider.

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The AAO found on de novo review that merely holding an advanced degree is not the standard; the degree must be academically appropriate to the petitioned profession. The beneficiary's degrees in Education and Law were not shown to be required for or appropriate to her intended duties as a chief executive of a multi-service provider.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-10_01_B5203; source_row=15622
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in professional associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

The four business corporations (MCI, FedEx, HP-Compaq, Xerox) are not professional associations; the petitioner's business arrangements with them are not memberships. Only one actual professional association was documented initially, and the regulation requires membership in more than one association.…

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The four business corporations (MCI, FedEx, HP-Compaq, Xerox) are not professional associations; the petitioner's business arrangements with them are not memberships. Only one actual professional association was documented initially, and the regulation requires membership in more than one association. The associate membership added in the RFE response was not shown to have existed at filing and did not require professional credentials.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-01-10_01_B5203; source_row=15627
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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