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 22311–22320

EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

EconomicsPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO withdrew the director's finding. The petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of salary (payroll records, paystubs, tax documents) and the letters from her own company and father were not sworn affidavits. The comparative salary data did not properly compare her salary to others in her specific field, and foreign-language documents lacked certified translations.

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The AAO withdrew the director's finding. The petitioner failed to submit primary evidence of salary (payroll records, paystubs, tax documents) and the letters from her own company and father were not sworn affidavits. The comparative salary data did not properly compare her salary to others in her specific field, and foreign-language documents lacked certified translations.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_04_B2203; source_row=15478
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

EconomicsPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The regulation requires documentation of the alien's own receipt of prizes or awards. Documents addressed to the petitioner's father or his companies do not demonstrate the petitioner's individual receipt of such awards. One letter post-dated the petition filing and could not be considered; moreover, it was only a letter of thanks, not a prize or award.

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The regulation requires documentation of the alien's own receipt of prizes or awards. Documents addressed to the petitioner's father or his companies do not demonstrate the petitioner's individual receipt of such awards. One letter post-dated the petition filing and could not be considered; moreover, it was only a letter of thanks, not a prize or award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_04_B2203; source_row=15473
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

EconomicsPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AS system was only applied at the petitioner's own company, and a referenced expert letter speculated about future impact rather than demonstrating current major significance. NTFIS was also shown to be used only within the petitioner's company. The book was not shown to have been widely applied or implemented in the field beyond the petitioner's company.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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The AS system was only applied at the petitioner's own company, and a referenced expert letter speculated about future impact rather than demonstrating current major significance. NTFIS was also shown to be used only within the petitioner's company. The book was not shown to have been widely applied or implemented in the field beyond the petitioner's company.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_04_B2203; source_row=15476
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

EconomicsPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations

Why AAO was not persuaded

For TCA, INTES, and a third association, only company memberships were demonstrated, not individual memberships. For TUSIAD, while the petitioner showed individual membership, she failed to demonstrate that TUSIAD requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. Additionally, demonstrating membership in only one association is insufficient given the regulatory use of the plural.

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

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For TCA, INTES, and a third association, only company memberships were demonstrated, not individual memberships. For TUSIAD, while the petitioner showed individual membership, she failed to demonstrate that TUSIAD requires outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. Additionally, demonstrating membership in only one association is insufficient given the regulatory use of the plural.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_04_B2203; source_row=15474
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

EconomicsPhysician

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The regulation requires formal participation as a judge either on a panel or individually. Simply signing contracts on behalf of the petitioner's company does not demonstrate formal judging. No documentation was actually submitted for the last project referenced by counsel.

Why this is useful

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

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The regulation requires formal participation as a judge either on a panel or individually. Simply signing contracts on behalf of the petitioner's company does not demonstrate formal judging. No documentation was actually submitted for the last project referenced by counsel.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_04_B2203; source_row=15475
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the petitioner's 2011 tax return and paycheck statements established the petitioner's ability to pay the difference between wages actually paid and the full proffered wage of $78,603.00, satisfying the continuing ability-to-pay requirement since the priority date of March 21, 2011.

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AAO found that the petitioner's 2011 tax return and paycheck statements established the petitioner's ability to pay the difference between wages actually paid and the full proffered wage of $78,603.00, satisfying the continuing ability-to-pay requirement since the priority date of March 21, 2011.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_03_B5203; source_row=15472
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary's foreign education equivalent to U.S. master's degree as required by labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the evaluations unpersuasive and conflicting, noted none were peer-reviewed, and gave preference to AACRAO's EDGE database, which equates an Indian three-year B.Sc. to two-to-three years of U.S. university study and an Indian M.Sc. to a U.S. bachelor's.

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AAO found the evaluations unpersuasive and conflicting, noted none were peer-reviewed, and gave preference to AACRAO's EDGE database, which equates an Indian three-year B.Sc. to two-to-three years of U.S. university study and an Indian M.Sc. to a U.S. bachelor's.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_07_B5203; source_row=15483
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

Five years of experience in architectural field per labor certification

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO concluded that the beneficiary's master's degree in architecture and five years of work experience in jobs related to architecture satisfied the ETA Form 9089 requirements when Parts H.4 and H.10 are read in combination.

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 the beneficiary's master's degree in architecture and five years of work experience in jobs related to architecture satisfied the ETA Form 9089 requirements when Parts H.4 and H.10 are read in combination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_02_B5203; source_row=15471
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that the petitioner submitted sufficient documentary evidence demonstrating receipt of two lesser nationally recognized prizes for excellence, minimally meeting the plain language of the regulation.

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The AAO found that the petitioner submitted sufficient documentary evidence demonstrating receipt of two lesser nationally recognized prizes for excellence, minimally meeting the plain language of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_02_B2203; source_row=15463
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO reviewed the record and found sufficient documentary evidence to minimally meet the plain language of the regulation, concurring with the director.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO reviewed the record and found sufficient documentary evidence to minimally meet the plain language of the regulation, concurring with the director.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-18_02_B2203; source_row=15466
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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