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 24101–24110

EB-1AEB-1A · Artistic displayEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Artistic display

display of work at artistic exhibitions or showcases

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found the petitioner submitted sufficient documentary evidence that her cinematographic work was displayed at film festivals, satisfying the plain language of the criterion.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found the petitioner submitted sufficient documentary evidence that her cinematographic work was displayed at film festivals, satisfying the plain language of the criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-14_03_B2203; source_row=13363
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

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's accomplishments — ICG membership, a single article, and film festival displays — fell far short of demonstrating sustained national or international acclaim or top-of-field status. Many letters spoke to future potential, not present achievement, and the petitioner had not established eligibility at the time of filing.

Why this is useful

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

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The petitioner's accomplishments — ICG membership, a single article, and film festival displays — fell far short of demonstrating sustained national or international acclaim or top-of-field status. Many letters spoke to future potential, not present achievement, and the petitioner had not established eligibility at the time of filing.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-14_03_B2203; source_row=13366
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

job requires a professional holding an advanced degree or equivalent

Why the evidence was persuasive

Reading the ETA Form 9089 as a whole, including the Part H.14 addendum specifying 5 years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience, the position requires the equivalent of an advanced degree.

Why this is useful

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

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Reading the ETA Form 9089 as a whole, including the Part H.14 addendum specifying 5 years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience, the position requires the equivalent of an advanced degree.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-09_02_B5203; source_row=13353
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay the proffered wage from the priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO raised this issue beyond the director's decision. The petitioner did not submit W-2s or tax returns, so neither wages paid, net income, nor net current assets could be evaluated, and the totality of circumstances did not support a Sonegawa-type discretionary finding.

Why this is useful

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AAO raised this issue beyond the director's decision. The petitioner did not submit W-2s or tax returns, so neither wages paid, net income, nor net current assets could be evaluated, and the totality of circumstances did not support a Sonegawa-type discretionary finding.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-09_02_B5203; source_row=13354
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Beneficiary possesses an advanced degree or equivalent

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the beneficiary's Pakistani MBBS is the foreign equivalent of a U.S. medical degree (M.D.), a first professional degree, which constitutes an advanced degree above the baccalaureate level under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2). This conclusion was supported by the AACRAO EDGE peer-reviewed credential database.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO found that the beneficiary's Pakistani MBBS is the foreign equivalent of a U.S. medical degree (M.D.), a first professional degree, which constitutes an advanced degree above the baccalaureate level under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(k)(2). This conclusion was supported by the AACRAO EDGE peer-reviewed credential database.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-09_03_B5203; source_row=13356
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Labor certification requires an advanced degree

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that the alien employment certification does call for an advanced degree, contrary to the director's determination.

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AAO found that the alien employment certification does call for an advanced degree, contrary to the director's determination.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-09_03_B5203; source_row=13355
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent (foreign equivalent degree plus five years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's three-year Indian B.S. degree is not a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate; combined with an MBA from IGNOU built on that three-year degree, the credentials equate only to a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO EDGE. The beneficiary also cannot satisfy the five-year progressive experience requirement by the 2002 priority date given that the bachelor's equivalent was only earned in 2000.…

Why this is useful

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

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The beneficiary's three-year Indian B.S. degree is not a foreign equivalent degree to a U.S. baccalaureate; combined with an MBA from IGNOU built on that three-year degree, the credentials equate only to a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO EDGE. The beneficiary also cannot satisfy the five-year progressive experience requirement by the 2002 priority date given that the bachelor's equivalent was only earned in 2000. Unpublished AAO decisions are not binding, and the UNESCO argument fails because the U.S. has not ratified any UNESCO recognition conventions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-07_03_B5203; source_row=13349
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced Degree or Foreign Equivalent Degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

Under AACRAO EDGE and PIER publications, the beneficiary's three-year Indian B.S. and two-year Indian M.S. together are equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. A three-year bachelor's degree is not a foreign equivalent degree to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate.…

Why this is useful

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

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Under AACRAO EDGE and PIER publications, the beneficiary's three-year Indian B.S. and two-year Indian M.S. together are equivalent only to a U.S. bachelor's degree. A three-year bachelor's degree is not a foreign equivalent degree to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate. The beneficiary also did not have five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience by the priority date, so she cannot qualify via the equivalency path either.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-07_01_B5203; source_row=13347
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Meets minimum experience requirement on labor certification (5 years in job or related occupation)

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that the beneficiary did possess five years of experience in the related occupation of software design and development as of the priority date.

Why this is useful

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The AAO found that the beneficiary did possess five years of experience in the related occupation of software design and development as of the priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-07_03_B5203; source_row=13351
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Meets minimum education requirement on labor certification (MBA or master's degree)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's MBA from IGNOU, built on a three-year Indian B.S. degree, is only comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO EDGE, not a U.S. master's degree, so the education requirement of the labor certification is not met.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The beneficiary's MBA from IGNOU, built on a three-year Indian B.S. degree, is only comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO EDGE, not a U.S. master's degree, so the education requirement of the labor certification is not met.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-11-07_03_B5203; source_row=13350
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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