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 24241–24250

EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

The totality of evidence did not establish sustained national or international acclaim. The petitioner's awards were student-limited, memberships did not require outstanding achievement, peer review was routine, citations were minimal (fewer than a dozen, including self-citations), and expert letters focused on future impact rather than established significance as of the filing date.…

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The totality of evidence did not establish sustained national or international acclaim. The petitioner's awards were student-limited, memberships did not require outstanding achievement, peer review was routine, citations were minimal (fewer than a dozen, including self-citations), and expert letters focused on future impact rather than established significance as of the filing date. The petitioner's references had far more impressive credentials, suggesting the very top of the field was far above the petitioner's level.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_01_B2203; source_row=13191
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

beneficiary holds advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO finds the petitioner failed to submit a certified English translation of the foreign transcript and failed to submit the foreign degree itself; the credentials evaluation cannot substitute for primary evidence that exists.

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AAO finds the petitioner failed to submit a certified English translation of the foreign transcript and failed to submit the foreign degree itself; the credentials evaluation cannot substitute for primary evidence that exists.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_03_B5203; source_row=13205
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

labor certification requires advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO withdraws the director's finding that the labor certification required a DVM, concluding instead that the DVM was claimed only as a special skill in Part B. However, AAO finds the labor certification only required a bachelor's degree, which is insufficient to qualify the position for EB-2 advanced-degree classification.

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AAO withdraws the director's finding that the labor certification required a DVM, concluding instead that the DVM was claimed only as a special skill in Part B. However, AAO finds the labor certification only required a bachelor's degree, which is insufficient to qualify the position for EB-2 advanced-degree classification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_03_B5203; source_row=13206
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via wages actually paid to beneficiary

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's W-2 forms showed compensation less than the proffered wage of $80,000, so the petitioner needed to show ability to pay the difference through other means.

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The beneficiary's W-2 forms showed compensation less than the proffered wage of $80,000, so the petitioner needed to show ability to pay the difference through other means.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_02_B5203; source_row=13194
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via totality of business circumstances (Sonegawa)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Under Sonegawa, AAO may consider overall business magnitude including years in business, historical growth, reputation, and number of employees. Here, the petitioner provided no evidence of its reputation or historical growth, and the filing of at least 1,400 petitions for only 240 employees called into question the realism of the job offer.

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Under Sonegawa, AAO may consider overall business magnitude including years in business, historical growth, reputation, and number of employees. Here, the petitioner provided no evidence of its reputation or historical growth, and the filing of at least 1,400 petitions for only 240 employees called into question the realism of the job offer.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_02_B5203; source_row=13197
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via net current assets

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner's net current assets for 2005–2007 were sufficient for the instant beneficiary alone, but given the volume of simultaneously pending petitions, the petitioner failed to establish that net current assets were sufficient to cover all sponsored beneficiaries.

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The petitioner's net current assets for 2005–2007 were sufficient for the instant beneficiary alone, but given the volume of simultaneously pending petitions, the petitioner failed to establish that net current assets were sufficient to cover all sponsored beneficiaries.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_02_B5203; source_row=13196
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay via net income (tax returns)

Why AAO was not persuaded

While net income may have been sufficient for the instant beneficiary in isolation, the petitioner submitted W-2 forms for many employees but did not clarify which represented sponsored beneficiaries or provide proffered wages for all pending petitions, and USCIS records indicated a much larger number of additional petitions; thus the petitioner failed to show net income was sufficient across all simultaneously pending peti…

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While net income may have been sufficient for the instant beneficiary in isolation, the petitioner submitted W-2 forms for many employees but did not clarify which represented sponsored beneficiaries or provide proffered wages for all pending petitions, and USCIS records indicated a much larger number of additional petitions; thus the petitioner failed to show net income was sufficient across all simultaneously pending petitions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_02_B5203; source_row=13195
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

authorship of scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner's seven published scholarly articles and handbook chapter satisfy the plain language requirements of this criterion.

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The petitioner's seven published scholarly articles and handbook chapter satisfy the plain language requirements of this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_03_B2203; source_row=13203
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why the evidence was persuasive

The petitioner's peer review of articles for several scientific journals and his position as Session Chair at the 2009 AES conference satisfies the plain language of this criterion, notwithstanding concerns about the 2006 conference role.

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The petitioner's peer review of articles for several scientific journals and his position as Session Chair at the 2009 AES conference satisfies the plain language of this criterion, notwithstanding concerns about the 2006 conference role.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_03_B2203; source_row=13201
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mechanical / Manufacturing Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that despite expert letters praising the petitioner's work, there was insufficient evidence of actual impact: fewer than a dozen citations (many self-citations), no evidence of widespread implementation of his models, and letters that spoke to future potential rather than existing significance as of the filing date.

Why this is useful

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

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The AAO found that despite expert letters praising the petitioner's work, there was insufficient evidence of actual impact: fewer than a dozen citations (many self-citations), no evidence of widespread implementation of his models, and letters that spoke to future potential rather than existing significance as of the filing date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-28_01_B2203; source_row=13189
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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