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 22331–22340

EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO declined to consider the additional evidence submitted for the first time on appeal because the director had put the petitioner on notice of the deficiency and the petitioner failed to respond adequately to the RFE. Additionally, the appeal-stage evidence postdated the petition filing date.

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The AAO declined to consider the additional evidence submitted for the first time on appeal because the director had put the petitioner on notice of the deficiency and the petitioner failed to respond adequately to the RFE. Additionally, the appeal-stage evidence postdated the petition filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_04_B2203; source_row=15452
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

New facts supported by affidavits or documentary evidence (8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2))

Why AAO was not persuaded

The evidence submitted—two documents from the Armenian Hockey Federation referencing events no more recent than 1999—was not shown to be 'new' because counsel failed to explain why it could not have been discovered or presented at any of the three prior opportunities to submit evidence.

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The evidence submitted—two documents from the Armenian Hockey Federation referencing events no more recent than 1999—was not shown to be 'new' because counsel failed to explain why it could not have been discovered or presented at any of the three prior opportunities to submit evidence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=15446
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Ineffective assistance of counsel claim (Matter of Lozada requirements)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Counsel acknowledged the Lozada requirements but made no effort to comply with any of the three procedural requirements, instead stating an intent to comply at a future time. The AAO held that the requirements must be met at the time of filing, and the promise of future compliance is insufficient.

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Counsel acknowledged the Lozada requirements but made no effort to comply with any of the three procedural requirements, instead stating an intent to comply at a future time. The AAO held that the requirements must be met at the time of filing, and the promise of future compliance is insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_01_B2203; source_row=15445
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Foreign educational equivalent acceptable per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

USCIS must read the labor certification as completed and cannot ignore its plain language. Question 9 expressly states a foreign educational equivalent is not acceptable. The BALCA decision in Matter of HealthAmerica is distinguishable because it addressed a denied labor certification, not an approved one, and in any event BALCA precedents are not binding on USCIS.

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USCIS must read the labor certification as completed and cannot ignore its plain language. Question 9 expressly states a foreign educational equivalent is not acceptable. The BALCA decision in Matter of HealthAmerica is distinguishable because it addressed a denied labor certification, not an approved one, and in any event BALCA precedents are not binding on USCIS.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_04_B5203; source_row=15458
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary's field of study matches labor certification requirement

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's degree is in mechanical engineering, but the labor certification requires a business administration degree, and the petitioner specifically noted that a degree in an alternate field of study was not acceptable.

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The beneficiary's degree is in mechanical engineering, but the labor certification requires a business administration degree, and the petitioner specifically noted that a degree in an alternate field of study was not acceptable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_04_B5203; source_row=15459
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Sixty months of experience in offered job or alternative executive-level occupation

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found only 21 months of qualifying executive-level experience (with one prior employer), as positions as claims adjustment department manager, administrative manager, and assistant manager constituted managerial rather than executive capacity.…

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The AAO found only 21 months of qualifying executive-level experience (with one prior employer), as positions as claims adjustment department manager, administrative manager, and assistant manager constituted managerial rather than executive capacity. The beneficiary's self-employment as president of a very small company with minimal revenue and no meaningful organizational structure could not qualify as an executive-level position, and the supporting letters lacked specific and detailed duty descriptions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_05_B5203; source_row=15461
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Foreign equivalent of U.S. bachelor's degree

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found the apparent date discrepancy was likely a product of repeated photocopying rather than a material discrepancy, and concluded the beneficiary possesses the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

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The AAO found the apparent date discrepancy was likely a product of repeated photocopying rather than a material discrepancy, and concluded the beneficiary possesses the foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_05_B5203; source_row=15460
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1Aprocedural or otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

procedural or other

Motion to reopen — new facts supported by evidence (8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(2))

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner re-presented previously submitted or available evidence and unsupported assertions of counsel; the inability of his spouse to retrieve documents from Kathmandu was not credible given his I-485 statements, and no genuinely new evidence was offered.

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Petitioner re-presented previously submitted or available evidence and unsupported assertions of counsel; the inability of his spouse to retrieve documents from Kathmandu was not credible given his I-485 statements, and no genuinely new evidence was offered.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_03_B2203; source_row=15448
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or equivalent qualification

What the decision said

AAO did not address the merits of this prong because the appeal was summarily dismissed for failure to specifically identify errors in the director's decision.

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AAO did not address the merits of this prong because the appeal was summarily dismissed for failure to specifically identify errors in the director's decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-17_06_B5203; source_row=15462
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary possesses required degree in designated field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's three-year Bachelor of Commerce is not equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO EDGE and Matter of Shah. The BSc Honours is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree but is in computer science, which is not among the required fields (business administration, commerce, finance, or related field) and the beneficiary took no courses in those subjects.

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The beneficiary's three-year Bachelor of Commerce is not equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO EDGE and Matter of Shah. The BSc Honours is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree but is in computer science, which is not among the required fields (business administration, commerce, finance, or related field) and the beneficiary took no courses in those subjects.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-12-10_01_B5203; source_row=15442
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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