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.
beneficiary's foreign degree equivalent to U.S. master's
Why AAO was not persuaded
AACRAO EDGE indicates Iranian universities do not issue master's degrees; the equivalent is a Karshenasi-Arshad. The petitioner did not respond to the AAO's RFE addressing the equivalency issue, leaving the inconsistency unresolved.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AACRAO EDGE indicates Iranian universities do not issue master's degrees; the equivalent is a Karshenasi-Arshad. The petitioner did not respond to the AAO's RFE addressing the equivalency issue, leaving the inconsistency unresolved.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-12_01_B5203; source_row=14865 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
AAO found net income sufficient only in 2007; net current assets were negative in 2008 and 2009; no wages were paid to the beneficiary; and Sonegawa totality factors did not support ability to pay.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
AAO found net income sufficient only in 2007; net current assets were negative in 2008 and 2009; no wages were paid to the beneficiary; and Sonegawa totality factors did not support ability to pay.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-12_04_B5203; source_row=14883 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Wages paid were below the proffered wage in every year; net income and net current assets cannot be deemed sufficient given thousands of other pending petitions; and Sonegawa totality factors do not favor the petitioner.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
Wages paid were below the proffered wage in every year; net income and net current assets cannot be deemed sufficient given thousands of other pending petitions; and Sonegawa totality factors do not favor the petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-12_03_B5203; source_row=14878 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found the issue abandoned on appeal due to only a passing reference, and further found that the letters only demonstrated impact at the company level, not major significance in the field as a whole. Some letters were accompanied by deficient translations not compliant with 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3), and one letter lacked an identified official. Vague, solicited letters from colleagues are insufficient under Kazarian.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
The AAO found the issue abandoned on appeal due to only a passing reference, and further found that the letters only demonstrated impact at the company level, not major significance in the field as a whole. Some letters were accompanied by deficient translations not compliant with 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(b)(3), and one letter lacked an identified official. Vague, solicited letters from colleagues are insufficient under Kazarian.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_04_B2203; source_row=14860 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO concurred that the translation was deficient — lacking a certification of completeness, accuracy, and the translator's competence — and that the record contained no comparative evidence to establish the bonus constituted high remuneration in relation to others in the field. The director had requested such comparative evidence in the RFE and the petitioner still failed to provide it.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO concurred that the translation was deficient — lacking a certification of completeness, accuracy, and the translator's competence — and that the record contained no comparative evidence to establish the bonus constituted high remuneration in relation to others in the field. The director had requested such comparative evidence in the RFE and the petitioner still failed to provide it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_04_B2203; source_row=14862 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
leading or critical role for distinguished organizations
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found the issue abandoned on appeal due to only a passing reference without substantive argument. Additionally, the plain language of the criterion requires a leading or critical role for multiple organizations or establishments (plural), and the petitioner only claimed eligibility for a single company. The evidence also did not identify specific actions constituting a leading or critical role.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO found the issue abandoned on appeal due to only a passing reference without substantive argument. Additionally, the plain language of the criterion requires a leading or critical role for multiple organizations or establishments (plural), and the petitioner only claimed eligibility for a single company. The evidence also did not identify specific actions constituting a leading or critical role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_04_B2203; source_row=14861 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The AAO found the issue abandoned on appeal due to only a passing reference without substantive argument, and further held that a job with a company is not membership in an association as required by the plain language of the criterion. The AAO also noted the petitioner failed to show membership in multiple associations as required by the plural language of the regulation.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO found the issue abandoned on appeal due to only a passing reference without substantive argument, and further held that a job with a company is not membership in an association as required by the plain language of the criterion. The AAO also noted the petitioner failed to show membership in multiple associations as required by the plural language of the regulation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_04_B2203; source_row=14859 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO found that performances and commissions alone do not establish contributions of major significance, as all compositions are meant to be performed. Reference letters were largely conclusory, repeated statutory language, failed to compare the petitioner's work to others, or speculated about future contributions rather than demonstrating current impact on the field.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
The AAO found that performances and commissions alone do not establish contributions of major significance, as all compositions are meant to be performed. Reference letters were largely conclusory, repeated statutory language, failed to compare the petitioner's work to others, or speculated about future contributions rather than demonstrating current impact on the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_01_B2203; source_row=14845 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
The AAO agreed with the director that none of the submitted awards qualified as nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence. Deficiencies included: a runner-up selection by students lacking national/international recognition; an ASCAP award with no evidence of nomination process or breadth of recognition; missing primary award documents; uncertified or improperly translated foreign-language cert…
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO agreed with the director that none of the submitted awards qualified as nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence. Deficiencies included: a runner-up selection by students lacking national/international recognition; an ASCAP award with no evidence of nomination process or breadth of recognition; missing primary award documents; uncertified or improperly translated foreign-language certificates; and evidence lacking nomination/selection process details or media coverage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-07-11_01_B2203; source_row=14843 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c