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.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 24311–24320

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Mathematics / Statistics

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO raised ability to pay as a new ground on appeal. The petitioner had 81 pending or approved petitions and provided no financial documentation (annual reports, tax returns, or audited financial statements) from the priority date of January 21, 2008 through the present, and failed to respond to the AAO's RFE.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO raised ability to pay as a new ground on appeal. The petitioner had 81 pending or approved petitions and provided no financial documentation (annual reports, tax returns, or audited financial statements) from the priority date of January 21, 2008 through the present, and failed to respond to the AAO's RFE.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-02_04_B5203; source_row=13129
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

bachelor's degree or foreign educational equivalent per ETA 9089 Part H

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the beneficiary lacks a single foreign equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate, the beneficiary does not meet the bachelor's degree requirement set out in Part H of the ETA Form 9089.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Because the beneficiary lacks a single foreign equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate, the beneficiary does not meet the bachelor's degree requirement set out in Part H of the ETA Form 9089.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-02_01_B5203; source_row=13124
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

continuing ability to pay the proffered wage

Why the evidence was persuasive

The new Client Service Agreement established Administaff as the petitioner's payroll contractor, and the petitioner's 2007 net income of $76,855 was more than sufficient to cover the $13,901.24 wage shortfall.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The new Client Service Agreement established Administaff as the petitioner's payroll contractor, and the petitioner's 2007 net income of $76,855 was more than sufficient to cover the $13,901.24 wage shortfall.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-02_01_B5203; source_row=13122
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

advanced degree or foreign equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO agreed the beneficiary does not hold a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent (only a three-year diploma and a one-year diploma) and therefore cannot qualify under the EB-2 advanced-degree-professional category.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO agreed the beneficiary does not hold a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent (only a three-year diploma and a one-year diploma) and therefore cannot qualify under the EB-2 advanced-degree-professional category.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-01_01_B5203; source_row=13120
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

other

beneficiary meets labor certification requirements

Why AAO was not persuaded

Reading ETA 9089 Part H as a whole, the AAO interpreted the certification to require a bachelor's degree plus five years of alternate-occupation experience, and the beneficiary's diplomas and inadequately documented experience do not satisfy that requirement.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Reading ETA 9089 Part H as a whole, the AAO interpreted the certification to require a bachelor's degree plus five years of alternate-occupation experience, and the beneficiary's diplomas and inadequately documented experience do not satisfy that requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-09-01_01_B5203; source_row=13121
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

beneficiary possesses advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

The beneficiary's Honduran teaching credentials do not constitute a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO/EDGE, and even if they did, the record failed to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience due to discrepancies in employment letters and insufficient duty descriptions.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The beneficiary's Honduran teaching credentials do not constitute a foreign equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree per AACRAO/EDGE, and even if they did, the record failed to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience due to discrepancies in employment letters and insufficient duty descriptions.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-08-26_06_B5203; source_row=13115
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Beneficiary holds U.S. baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO rejected the expert evaluation because neither of the beneficiary's two Honduran programs individually constitutes a single four-year bachelor's degree. AACRAO's Foreign Educational Credentials publication indicated the primary teacher's certificate would only gain freshman admission in a U.S. institution, while the middle school professor certificate would be eligible only for undergraduate transfer credit.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The AAO rejected the expert evaluation because neither of the beneficiary's two Honduran programs individually constitutes a single four-year bachelor's degree. AACRAO's Foreign Educational Credentials publication indicated the primary teacher's certificate would only gain freshman admission in a U.S. institution, while the middle school professor certificate would be eligible only for undergraduate transfer credit. Combining two lesser credentials cannot produce a 'foreign equivalent degree'; only a single degree that is the equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate qualifies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-08-26_04_B5203; source_row=13110
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in the specialty

Why AAO was not persuaded

The two employer letters contained inconsistent dates of employment (one stating 1997–2001, the other 1998–2003), neither described duties sufficiently, neither confirmed full-time status, and neither verified the specific computer skills required by the labor certification.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
The two employer letters contained inconsistent dates of employment (one stating 1997–2001, the other 1998–2003), neither described duties sufficiently, neither confirmed full-time status, and neither verified the specific computer skills required by the labor certification. Additionally, without a specific 2002 date for the credential, it was impossible to calculate whether five years of progressive experience had elapsed by the priority date of November 8, 2007.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-08-26_04_B5203; source_row=13111
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

labor certification requires advanced degree or exceptional ability

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the labor certification's minimum requirements (Bachelor's plus 12 months experience) do not demonstrate the job requires an advanced degree professional, and rejected the request to readjudicate under EB-3 as an impermissible material change.

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
AAO agreed that the labor certification's minimum requirements (Bachelor's plus 12 months experience) do not demonstrate the job requires an advanced degree professional, and rejected the request to readjudicate under EB-3 as an impermissible material change.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-08-26_03_B5203; source_row=13107
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

OtherBachelor’s

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Beneficiary possesses advanced degree or equivalent

Why AAO was not persuaded

Neither of the beneficiary's Honduran credentials individually constitutes a foreign equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate. Combining an associate-level credential with a sub-baccalaureate credential cannot yield the required single foreign equivalent degree.…

Why this is useful

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

View full reasoning +
Neither of the beneficiary's Honduran credentials individually constitutes a foreign equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate. Combining an associate-level credential with a sub-baccalaureate credential cannot yield the required single foreign equivalent degree. The submitted credential evaluation is unpersuasive because even the evaluator did not claim the Universidad Pedagogica credential alone represents a four-year bachelor's degree. Even if the credentials were deemed equivalent to a bachelor's, the employment letters are insufficient to establish five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience due to discrepant dates, missing duty descriptions, and an undetermined 2002 graduation date.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2011-08-26_07_B5203; source_row=13118
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
← Back to assessment