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 24211–24220

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Net current assets sufficient to cover proffered wage shortfall

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2007 tax return reflected net current assets of -$19,710, which were insufficient to cover the shortfall between wages paid and the proffered wage.

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The 2007 tax return reflected net current assets of -$19,710, which were insufficient to cover the shortfall between wages paid and the proffered wage.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-10-04_04_B5203; source_row=13236
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Totality of circumstances (Sonegawa factors)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO considered the Sonegawa totality-of-circumstances factors sua sponte and found them unhelpful to the petitioner: the company had declining gross receipts, only two tax returns in record, net losses in both years, only 3 employees, and no evidence of business reputation comparable to the Sonegawa petitioner.

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The AAO considered the Sonegawa totality-of-circumstances factors sua sponte and found them unhelpful to the petitioner: the company had declining gross receipts, only two tax returns in record, net losses in both years, only 3 employees, and no evidence of business reputation comparable to the Sonegawa petitioner.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-10-04_04_B5203; source_row=13237
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Wages paid to beneficiary at or above proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary received $62,604 in 2007 via Dates, Inc., which is less than the proffered wage of $99,507.20, leaving a gap of $36,903.20 that the petitioner must cover through net income or net current assets.

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The beneficiary received $62,604 in 2007 via Dates, Inc., which is less than the proffered wage of $99,507.20, leaving a gap of $36,903.20 that the petitioner must cover through net income or net current assets.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-10-04_04_B5203; source_row=13234
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Net income sufficient to cover proffered wage shortfall

Why AAO was not persuaded

The 2007 federal income tax return showed a net loss of -$408,215. The AAO rejected arguments to add back depreciation and amortization as actual costs of doing business per River Street Donuts and Chi-Feng Chang precedents. Unaudited profit and loss statements were also rejected as unreliable management representations. CPA projections of future earnings were rejected per Matter of Great Wall.

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The 2007 federal income tax return showed a net loss of -$408,215. The AAO rejected arguments to add back depreciation and amortization as actual costs of doing business per River Street Donuts and Chi-Feng Chang precedents. Unaudited profit and loss statements were also rejected as unreliable management representations. CPA projections of future earnings were rejected per Matter of Great Wall.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-10-04_04_B5203; source_row=13235
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay proffered wage

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner paid the beneficiary only $68,813 against a proffered wage of $89,170 and never submitted its 2007 tax return despite being specifically requested to do so. Assets and income of related LLCs and the owner could not be attributed to the petitioner as a separate legal entity.…

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The petitioner paid the beneficiary only $68,813 against a proffered wage of $89,170 and never submitted its 2007 tax return despite being specifically requested to do so. Assets and income of related LLCs and the owner could not be attributed to the petitioner as a separate legal entity. The consulting agreements did not ensure that funds received would be applied to the beneficiary's wages, and the petitioner failed to establish Sonegawa-type exceptional circumstances.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-10-04_03_B5203; source_row=13233
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

national in scope

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO cited NYSDOT's observation that pro bono legal work by an individual attorney lacks national scope, affirming that the petitioner's intended local legal services did not meet this prong.

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The AAO cited NYSDOT's observation that pro bono legal work by an individual attorney lacks national scope, affirming that the petitioner's intended local legal services did not meet this prong.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-10-04_05_B5203; source_row=13239
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial intrinsic merit

What the decision said

The AAO did not separately resolve this prong, instead finding the entire waiver claim non-viable because the petitioner refused to pursue it.

Why this is useful

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The AAO did not separately resolve this prong, instead finding the entire waiver claim non-viable because the petitioner refused to pursue it.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-10-04_05_B5203; source_row=13238
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdrew the director's finding on two grounds: (1) the submission of a self-serving letter showing only a job title is insufficient to establish a leading or critical role without documentary evidence comparing the petitioner to other employees; and (2) the plain language of the regulation uses the plural 'organizations or establishments,' requiring leading or critical roles in more than one organization or establishment.

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AAO withdrew the director's finding on two grounds: (1) the submission of a self-serving letter showing only a job title is insufficient to establish a leading or critical role without documentary evidence comparing the petitioner to other employees; and (2) the plain language of the regulation uses the plural 'organizations or establishments,' requiring leading or critical roles in more than one organization or establishment.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-29_04_B2203; source_row=13228
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that none of the six submitted items satisfied the criterion: items lacked required author/title/publication information, were not about the petitioner relating to his work, or were not published in professional/major trade publications or other major media. AAO also rejected the comparable evidence argument under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(4).

Why this is useful

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AAO found that none of the six submitted items satisfied the criterion: items lacked required author/title/publication information, were not about the petitioner relating to his work, or were not published in professional/major trade publications or other major media. AAO also rejected the comparable evidence argument under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(4).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-29_04_B2203; source_row=13227
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the totality of evidence—a single award, brief mentions in publications, head chef employment, and a prospective U.S. job offer—did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the petitioner had risen to the very top of the culinary field.

Why this is useful

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AAO found the totality of evidence—a single award, brief mentions in publications, head chef employment, and a prospective U.S. job offer—did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the petitioner had risen to the very top of the culinary field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-29_04_B2203; source_row=13230
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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