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 23441–23450

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

Actual compensation to the beneficiary only covered September 2008 through May 2009, a fraction of the required period from the December 7, 2007 priority date to the present. The petitioner also failed to submit adequate tax return evidence for the full period.

Why this is useful

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Actual compensation to the beneficiary only covered September 2008 through May 2009, a fraction of the required period from the December 7, 2007 priority date to the present. The petitioner also failed to submit adequate tax return evidence for the full period.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-03_05_B5203; source_row=14108
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the petitioner that the national-scope prong applies to the occupation rather than the individual alien, and that a leadership position in a consumer electronics company can have national scope. AAO withdrew the director's adverse finding on this prong.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

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AAO agreed with the petitioner that the national-scope prong applies to the occupation rather than the individual alien, and that a leadership position in a consumer electronics company can have national scope. AAO withdrew the director's adverse finding on this prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-03_01_B5203; source_row=14105
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

Why the evidence was persuasive

Intrinsic merit of the petitioner's field was not in dispute.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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Intrinsic merit of the petitioner's field was not in dispute.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-03_01_B5203; source_row=14104
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves the national interest to a substantially greater degree than a U.S. worker

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the petitioner provided only vague claims and self-serving assertions about doubling or tripling sales without comparative data, no documentation of his impact on the field, and no track record as a top business executive that would support projections of future benefit as president of a consumer electronics company.…

Why this is useful

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AAO found the petitioner provided only vague claims and self-serving assertions about doubling or tripling sales without comparative data, no documentation of his impact on the field, and no track record as a top business executive that would support projections of future benefit as president of a consumer electronics company. AAO also noted the petitioner is already the beneficiary of an approved labor-certification-based I-140 with an earlier priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-03_01_B5203; source_row=14106
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other15 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The submitted articles either lack required elements (author, publication name, date), are not about the petitioner (often about his brother or other fencers), lack circulation evidence showing major media, are uncertified foreign-language pieces, or relate to his competitive career rather than coaching. A press release does not qualify as published material under the criterion.

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The submitted articles either lack required elements (author, publication name, date), are not about the petitioner (often about his brother or other fencers), lack circulation evidence showing major media, are uncertified foreign-language pieces, or relate to his competitive career rather than coaching. A press release does not qualify as published material under the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-02_01_B2203; source_row=14081
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other15 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted only letters attesting to his fencing-competition awards from the 1990s rather than primary evidence, and those competitive awards do not relate to coaching, the field for which classification is sought. Awards won by his students do not constitute the petitioner's own receipt of awards.…

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The petitioner submitted only letters attesting to his fencing-competition awards from the 1990s rather than primary evidence, and those competitive awards do not relate to coaching, the field for which classification is sought. Awards won by his students do not constitute the petitioner's own receipt of awards. Evidence in the record shows national coaching awards do exist (contradicting counsel's claim), but the petitioner has not received any.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-02_01_B2203; source_row=14080
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other15 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

Petitioner's reliance on Economic Research Institute mean-salary data for 'Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors' in three localities is improper because the criterion requires high (not above-average) earnings, the geographic limitation is too narrow, and the comparison occupation is not equivalent to fencing coach. A post-filing letter of agreement is not considered.

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Petitioner's reliance on Economic Research Institute mean-salary data for 'Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors' in three localities is improper because the criterion requires high (not above-average) earnings, the geographic limitation is too narrow, and the comparison occupation is not equivalent to fencing coach. A post-filing letter of agreement is not considered.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-02_01_B2203; source_row=14084
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

national interest substantially greater than U.S. worker with same minimum qualifications

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the petitioner submitted no evidence—in any form—showing that his contributions have exceeded or will continue to exceed those of others in his specialty to a degree warranting a national interest waiver.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found that the petitioner submitted no evidence—in any form—showing that his contributions have exceeded or will continue to exceed those of others in his specialty to a degree warranting a national interest waiver.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-02_04_B5203; source_row=14097
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Foreign degree equivalent to U.S. master's degree or advanced degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO preferred the peer-reviewed AACRAO EDGE information over the private credential evaluation, finding that the Inzinier degree is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The evaluator's opinion was based solely on program length, not content, and failed to compare the Inzinier program (a first degree in engineering) to a U.S. master's degree (a second degree in engineering).

Why this is useful

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AAO preferred the peer-reviewed AACRAO EDGE information over the private credential evaluation, finding that the Inzinier degree is comparable only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The evaluator's opinion was based solely on program length, not content, and failed to compare the Inzinier program (a first degree in engineering) to a U.S. master's degree (a second degree in engineering).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-02_06_B5203; source_row=14100
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

serves national interest to a substantially greater degree than a U.S. worker with same minimum qualifications

Why AAO was not persuaded

An employer's racially motivated preference that makes labor certification unavailable does not serve the national interest. The petitioner has submitted nothing showing the beneficiary's services are objectively superior to those of other qualified dentists, and the patients would still have access to a qualified dentist regardless.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

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An employer's racially motivated preference that makes labor certification unavailable does not serve the national interest. The petitioner has submitted nothing showing the beneficiary's services are objectively superior to those of other qualified dentists, and the patients would still have access to a qualified dentist regardless.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2012-04-02_03_B5203; source_row=14094
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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