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 24281–24290

NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

foreign equivalent baccalaureate plus five years progressive post-baccalaureate experience

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO accepted the AACRAO-member credential evaluation and concluded the beneficiary's foreign Bachelor of Engineering is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate. The AAO found the notarized supervisor letter from Tata Consultancy and the Prudent Technologies letter sufficient, and corrected the director's reasoning regarding Verizon (the beneficiary worked for Tata while doing consulting for Verizon, so Verizon need not have…

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The AAO accepted the AACRAO-member credential evaluation and concluded the beneficiary's foreign Bachelor of Engineering is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate. The AAO found the notarized supervisor letter from Tata Consultancy and the Prudent Technologies letter sufficient, and corrected the director's reasoning regarding Verizon (the beneficiary worked for Tata while doing consulting for Verizon, so Verizon need not have been separately listed on the ETA 9089).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-15_04_B5203; source_row=13156
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets the requirements stated on ETA Form 9089

Why the evidence was persuasive

Reading the ETA Form 9089 as a whole, the AAO concluded the beneficiary's foreign-equivalent baccalaureate and more-than-five-years of qualifying experience satisfy the certified requirements at Part H lines 4, 9, and 10.

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Reading the ETA Form 9089 as a whole, the AAO concluded the beneficiary's foreign-equivalent baccalaureate and more-than-five-years of qualifying experience satisfy the certified requirements at Part H lines 4, 9, and 10.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-15_04_B5203; source_row=13157
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Continuing ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO found that although the beneficiary was not paid the full proffered wage in 2008, 2009, or 2010, the petitioner's net income in each of those years (ranging from approximately $857,000 to $1.1 million) vastly exceeded the shortfall in each year, establishing the ability to pay. The unaudited financial statements were not relied upon as they lack the required audit.

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The AAO found that although the beneficiary was not paid the full proffered wage in 2008, 2009, or 2010, the petitioner's net income in each of those years (ranging from approximately $857,000 to $1.1 million) vastly exceeded the shortfall in each year, establishing the ability to pay. The unaudited financial statements were not relied upon as they lack the required audit.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-15_01_B5203; source_row=13153
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent (bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience)

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO concluded that the combined three-year bachelor's plus two-year master's equate to a U.S. baccalaureate per EDGE, and the beneficiary documented more than five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience as of the April 15, 2008 priority date.

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AAO concluded that the combined three-year bachelor's plus two-year master's equate to a U.S. baccalaureate per EDGE, and the beneficiary documented more than five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience as of the April 15, 2008 priority date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-13_02_B5203; source_row=13151
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AIManager

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets ETA Form 9089 minimum requirements

Why the evidence was persuasive

Reading the labor certification's plain language, the AAO concluded the beneficiary meets the alternative bachelor's-plus-five-years requirement, and a foreign educational equivalent is expressly acceptable.

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Reading the labor certification's plain language, the AAO concluded the beneficiary meets the alternative bachelor's-plus-five-years requirement, and a foreign educational equivalent is expressly acceptable.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-13_02_B5203; source_row=13152
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that the petitioner's publication record, citation history (only one well-cited article at filing), postdoctoral-level roles, and evidence as a whole did not demonstrate that she had risen to the very top of her field. The much more impressive credentials of her own references illustrated that the very top of the field was above her level of achievement.

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The AAO found that the petitioner's publication record, citation history (only one well-cited article at filing), postdoctoral-level roles, and evidence as a whole did not demonstrate that she had risen to the very top of her field. The much more impressive credentials of her own references illustrated that the very top of the field was above her level of achievement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-12_02_B2203; source_row=13145
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that expert letters failed to provide specific examples of how the petitioner's findings were being widely applied; citation counts were modest (most articles cited fewer than ten times at filing); future impact speculated by references is not sufficient since eligibility is assessed at filing; and even the best-cited article represents at most a single contribution, while the regulation requires plural contri…

Why this is useful

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The AAO found that expert letters failed to provide specific examples of how the petitioner's findings were being widely applied; citation counts were modest (most articles cited fewer than ten times at filing); future impact speculated by references is not sufficient since eligibility is assessed at filing; and even the best-cited article represents at most a single contribution, while the regulation requires plural contributions of major significance.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-12_02_B2203; source_row=13143
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent (baccalaureate + 5 years post-baccalaureate progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The regulation requires that five years of progressive experience 'follow' the bachelor's degree. The beneficiary's documented experience ran from 1999 to October 2005, while her degree was not completed until December 2005, making it mathematically impossible to have five years of post-baccalaureate experience before the April 2008 priority date.…

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The regulation requires that five years of progressive experience 'follow' the bachelor's degree. The beneficiary's documented experience ran from 1999 to October 2005, while her degree was not completed until December 2005, making it mathematically impossible to have five years of post-baccalaureate experience before the April 2008 priority date. Furthermore, experience concurrent with or prior to earning a bachelor's degree is not professional experience.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-12_05_B5203; source_row=13149
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets labor certification job requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The ETA Form 9089 required a master's degree in chemistry or a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience. The beneficiary holds only a foreign bachelor's equivalent and lacks five years of post-baccalaureate experience before the priority date, so she does not satisfy either alternative.

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The ETA Form 9089 required a master's degree in chemistry or a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience. The beneficiary holds only a foreign bachelor's equivalent and lacks five years of post-baccalaureate experience before the priority date, so she does not satisfy either alternative.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-12_05_B5203; source_row=13150
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO refused to consider the late-submitted evidence under Soriano and Obaigbena and affirmed the director's ability-to-pay denial.

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AAO refused to consider the late-submitted evidence under Soriano and Obaigbena and affirmed the director's ability-to-pay denial.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-12_03_B5203; source_row=13148
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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