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 23011–23020

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Job offer is for a permanent full-time position

Why AAO was not persuaded

Counsel's statement on appeal that the beneficiary would be employed as a congregational preacher to preach at Sunday service is inconsistent with the petitioner's claim of at least 35 hours per week, casting doubt on whether the position is genuinely full-time.

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

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Counsel's statement on appeal that the beneficiary would be employed as a congregational preacher to preach at Sunday service is inconsistent with the petitioner's claim of at least 35 hours per week, casting doubt on whether the position is genuinely full-time.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-13_03_B5203; source_row=14623
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Job offer requires advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The ETA Form 9089 job offer specifies only a Bachelor's degree in divinity and 24 months of experience as minimum requirements, which does not meet the regulatory requirement that the job itself require an advanced degree holder or the equivalent.

Why this is useful

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

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The ETA Form 9089 job offer specifies only a Bachelor's degree in divinity and 24 months of experience as minimum requirements, which does not meet the regulatory requirement that the job itself require an advanced degree holder or the equivalent.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-13_03_B5203; source_row=14622
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination – sustained national or international acclaim

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO concurred with the director. The single dated award, lack of qualifying published material, conclusory expert letters, and absence of documented commercial success in the form of sales data collectively fail to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or top-of-field status.

Why this is useful

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The AAO concurred with the director. The single dated award, lack of qualifying published material, conclusory expert letters, and absence of documented commercial success in the form of sales data collectively fail to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or top-of-field status.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-13_01_B2203; source_row=14605
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

original contributions of major significance in the field

Why AAO was not persuaded

The expert letters were largely conclusory and mirrored each other's language without specifying how the petitioner's contributions had major significance or impacted the field. Vague, solicited letters without corroborating documentary evidence are insufficient.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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The expert letters were largely conclusory and mirrored each other's language without specifying how the petitioner's contributions had major significance or impacted the field. Vague, solicited letters without corroborating documentary evidence are insufficient.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-13_01_B2203; source_row=14601
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

What the decision said

Counsel simply asserted the $50,000 salary without providing additional evidence or argument, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

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Counsel simply asserted the $50,000 salary without providing additional evidence or argument, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-13_03_B2203; source_row=14620
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

The petitioner did not make a claim under this criterion and on appeal did not contest the director's findings or offer additional arguments, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner did not make a claim under this criterion and on appeal did not contest the director's findings or offer additional arguments, so the AAO considered the issue abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-13_03_B2203; source_row=14617
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

On appeal, the petitioner did not contest the director's findings or offer additional arguments, so the AAO considered this issue abandoned.

Why this is useful

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

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On appeal, the petitioner did not contest the director's findings or offer additional arguments, so the AAO considered this issue abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-13_03_B2203; source_row=14613
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Job offer requires a professional holding an advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

The job requires only 24 months of experience, which does not equate to an advanced degree under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2); the attempted reclassification to skilled worker is an impermissible material change.

Why this is useful

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

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The job requires only 24 months of experience, which does not equate to an advanced degree under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2); the attempted reclassification to skilled worker is an impermissible material change.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-11_05_B5203; source_row=14592
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

ETA Form 9089 requires a professional holding an advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the ETA Form 9089's minimum requirement of a three-year bachelor's plus five years of experience does not equate to a master's or U.S. bachelor's plus five years' progressive experience, the labor certification does not require an advanced-degree professional and the petition cannot be approved in that classification.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Because the ETA Form 9089's minimum requirement of a three-year bachelor's plus five years of experience does not equate to a master's or U.S. bachelor's plus five years' progressive experience, the labor certification does not require an advanced-degree professional and the petition cannot be approved in that classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-11_04_B5203; source_row=14590
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Beneficiary holds an advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

In a footnote, the AAO observed that the beneficiary's credentials are at most equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's via a combination of education and experience, which is not a single 'foreign equivalent degree' from a college or university as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2) and (k)(3)(i)(B).

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
In a footnote, the AAO observed that the beneficiary's credentials are at most equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's via a combination of education and experience, which is not a single 'foreign equivalent degree' from a college or university as required by 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2) and (k)(3)(i)(B).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-06-11_04_B5203; source_row=14591
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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