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 23981–23990

NIWNIW · Well positionedEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found the petitioner's work is not entirely local and its national reach is not so minimal as to be negligible, as it links a national pool of investors with a national pool of investment candidates.

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AAO found the petitioner's work is not entirely local and its national reach is not so minimal as to be negligible, as it links a national pool of investors with a national pool of investment candidates.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-14_05_B5203; source_row=13497
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high salary or significantly high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

No W-2 or similar documentation established an actual salary. The job offer letter reflected a future offer, not a salary already commanded. The witness letters made no reference to the petitioner's salary or compensation, and no comparative salary data was provided.

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No W-2 or similar documentation established an actual salary. The job offer letter reflected a future offer, not a salary already commanded. The witness letters made no reference to the petitioner's salary or compensation, and no comparative salary data was provided.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_03_B2203; source_row=13485
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why AAO was not persuaded

The only document in the record was an audit report that is not a scholarly article and was not shown to have appeared in a professional or major trade publication. The regulation also requires 'scholarly articles' in the plural.

Why this is useful

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The only document in the record was an audit report that is not a scholarly article and was not shown to have appeared in a professional or major trade publication. The regulation also requires 'scholarly articles' in the plural.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_03_B2203; source_row=13483
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

Membership in ICAN is based on serving a period as a student and passing an examination, which does not require outstanding achievements. No evidence showed the admitting council comprised recognized national or international experts. Furthermore, the regulation requires membership in associations (plural) and the petitioner only provided one.

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Membership in ICAN is based on serving a period as a student and passing an examination, which does not require outstanding achievements. No evidence showed the admitting council comprised recognized national or international experts. Furthermore, the regulation requires membership in associations (plural) and the petitioner only provided one.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_03_B2203; source_row=13480
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

In the aggregate, the petitioner's evidence—a company award, one professional association membership requiring only examination passage, ordinary auditing work, uncorroborated and partially plagiarized witness letters, and a single report with no demonstrated field impact—does not establish sustained national or international acclaim or placement at the very top of the accounting field.

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In the aggregate, the petitioner's evidence—a company award, one professional association membership requiring only examination passage, ordinary auditing work, uncorroborated and partially plagiarized witness letters, and a single report with no demonstrated field impact—does not establish sustained national or international acclaim or placement at the very top of the accounting field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_03_B2203; source_row=13486
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner provided only a single company award with no evidence of national or international recognition beyond her employer. The regulation's plural language ('prizes' and 'awards') also requires more than one award.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner provided only a single company award with no evidence of national or international recognition beyond her employer. The regulation's plural language ('prizes' and 'awards') also requires more than one award.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_03_B2203; source_row=13479
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The witness letters lacked specificity, were not corroborated by primary evidence, and several contained passages copied verbatim from internet sources, undermining their credibility. Mastering the Sarbanes-Oxley Act reflects normal job expectations for a competent accountant, not original contributions of major significance to the field.

Why this is useful

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

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The witness letters lacked specificity, were not corroborated by primary evidence, and several contained passages copied verbatim from internet sources, undermining their credibility. Mastering the Sarbanes-Oxley Act reflects normal job expectations for a competent accountant, not original contributions of major significance to the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_03_B2203; source_row=13482
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Overall magnitude of business activities (Sonegawa factors)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO considered Sonegawa factors sua sponte but found the petitioner showed no pattern of significant growth, no uncharacteristic expenditure explaining the losses, no outstanding business reputation, and no milestone achievements. The petitioner's many other I-140 filings further undermined the realism of the job offer.

Why this is useful

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AAO considered Sonegawa factors sua sponte but found the petitioner showed no pattern of significant growth, no uncharacteristic expenditure explaining the losses, no outstanding business reputation, and no milestone achievements. The petitioner's many other I-140 filings further undermined the realism of the job offer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_02_B5203; source_row=13478
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Net income sufficient to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's net income was negative in 2003, 2005, and 2006, and positive only in 2004. Because the petitioner filed multiple simultaneous I-140 and I-129 petitions, USCIS also examined net current assets, which were negative in all relevant years.…

Why this is useful

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The petitioner's net income was negative in 2003, 2005, and 2006, and positive only in 2004. Because the petitioner filed multiple simultaneous I-140 and I-129 petitions, USCIS also examined net current assets, which were negative in all relevant years. Reviewed financial statements were rejected because the regulation requires audited statements, and the accrual-method argument was rejected as an improper hybrid accounting approach.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_02_B5203; source_row=13477
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot pursuedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for distinguished organizations

What the decision said

The petitioner did not provide any argument or additional evidence for this criterion on appeal, so the AAO considered it abandoned.

Why this is useful

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The petitioner did not provide any argument or additional evidence for this criterion on appeal, so the AAO considered it abandoned.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-12-13_03_B2203; source_row=13484
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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