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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 22521–22530

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay the proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the wages paid fell short of the proffered wage in 2009, net income was negative, net current assets were negative, and the totality of circumstances did not parallel Sonegawa.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO found the wages paid fell short of the proffered wage in 2009, net income was negative, net current assets were negative, and the totality of circumstances did not parallel Sonegawa.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_01_B5203; source_row=15212
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherEngineer

Issue evaluated

other

three months experience as project architect or as technical assistant/façade engineer

Why AAO was not persuaded

The university supervisor's letter was discounted because he was not employed at Façade Consulting & Engineering, and the employer letter only documented 12 hours/week part-time over 13 months, which AAO held did not satisfy the 3-month experience requirement.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The university supervisor's letter was discounted because he was not employed at Façade Consulting & Engineering, and the employer letter only documented 12 hours/week part-time over 13 months, which AAO held did not satisfy the 3-month experience requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_01_B5203; source_row=15213
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets labor certification minimum education

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held the plain language of the labor certification requires a bachelor's degree or foreign educational equivalent and that the beneficiary's combined credentials do not satisfy that requirement.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO held the plain language of the labor certification requires a bachelor's degree or foreign educational equivalent and that the beneficiary's combined credentials do not satisfy that requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_03_B5203; source_row=15219
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's 2009 Form 1120S showed net income of -$67 and net current assets of -$137,510. Adding back depreciation is improper under River Street Donuts and Chi-Feng Chang. The cash balance is already included as a current asset in the net current assets calculation and is not a separate funding source. Totality of circumstances did not rise to the Sonegawa standard.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner's 2009 Form 1120S showed net income of -$67 and net current assets of -$137,510. Adding back depreciation is improper under River Street Donuts and Chi-Feng Chang. The cash balance is already included as a current asset in the net current assets calculation and is not a separate funding source. Totality of circumstances did not rise to the Sonegawa standard.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_09_B5203; source_row=15223
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherMaster’s

Issue evaluated

other

Official academic record establishing required degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO raised this issue sua sponte on appeal. Only translations of the diploma and transcript were in the record; no original official academic record was submitted as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A).

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO raised this issue sua sponte on appeal. Only translations of the diploma and transcript were in the record; no original official academic record was submitted as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(3)(i)(A).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_09_B5203; source_row=15224
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Net current assets sufficient to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's 2008 Form 1120 showed net current assets of -$3,657,087 and the 1120S showed -$988,586, both insufficient to pay the proffered wage.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The petitioner's 2008 Form 1120 showed net current assets of -$3,657,087 and the 1120S showed -$988,586, both insufficient to pay the proffered wage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=15216
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Wages paid to beneficiary equal to or exceeding proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2008 Form 1040 did not demonstrate wages paid by the petitioner specifically. The 2009 W-2 showed wages of $30,081.71, well below the proffered wage of $72,970. The 2010 W-2 exceeded the proffered wage but did not cure the earlier deficiencies.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The 2008 Form 1040 did not demonstrate wages paid by the petitioner specifically. The 2009 W-2 showed wages of $30,081.71, well below the proffered wage of $72,970. The 2010 W-2 exceeded the proffered wage but did not cure the earlier deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=15214
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Totality of circumstances (Matter of Sonegawa analysis)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found no facts paralleling those in Sonegawa sufficient to establish ability to pay. The claim that the petitioner employed 100+ workers was inconsistent with the 48 workers stated on the Form I-140, unaudited financial statements were legally insufficient, and the unaudited 2009 statements themselves showed negative net income and net current assets.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO found no facts paralleling those in Sonegawa sufficient to establish ability to pay. The claim that the petitioner employed 100+ workers was inconsistent with the 48 workers stated on the Form I-140, unaudited financial statements were legally insufficient, and the unaudited 2009 statements themselves showed negative net income and net current assets.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=15217
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Net income sufficient to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

For the fiscal year 2008, the petitioner's Form 1120 showed net income of -$1,547,999 (C corp period) and the Form 1120S showed net income of -$261,719 (S corp period), both deeply negative. No 2009 tax returns were provided.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
For the fiscal year 2008, the petitioner's Form 1120 showed net income of -$1,547,999 (C corp period) and the Form 1120S showed net income of -$261,719 (S corp period), both deeply negative. No 2009 tax returns were provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=15215
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets minimum education/experience requirements of labor certification as of priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

After reviewing the full record including appeal-stage evidence, AAO found that the petitioner met its burden of establishing the beneficiary satisfied the labor certification's educational and experience requirements as of the July 30, 2008 priority date.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
After reviewing the full record including appeal-stage evidence, AAO found that the petitioner met its burden of establishing the beneficiary satisfied the labor certification's educational and experience requirements as of the July 30, 2008 priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-08-20_01_B5203; source_row=15210
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment