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 9281–9290

NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Social Sciences

Issue evaluated

other

Qualifying employment experience per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found, sua sponte, that the record does not establish the Beneficiary's qualifying experience because her resume lists job titles inconsistent with the labor certification requirement, omits job duties, and suggests part-time work in simultaneous positions. AAO remanded for the Director to notify the Petitioner of these deficiencies.

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AAO found, sua sponte, that the record does not establish the Beneficiary's qualifying experience because her resume lists job titles inconsistent with the labor certification requirement, omits job duties, and suggests part-time work in simultaneous positions. AAO remanded for the Director to notify the Petitioner of these deficiencies.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-05_03_B5203; source_row=30678
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence

What the decision said

AAO reserved opinion on criterion (i) because even if satisfied, the Petitioner would still not meet at least three criteria overall.

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AAO reserved opinion on criterion (i) because even if satisfied, the Petitioner would still not meet at least three criteria overall.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-05_01_B2203; source_row=30669
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

What the decision said

AAO reserved the formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the initial evidence threshold, but noted in passing that the record does not establish the required acclaim.

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AAO reserved the formal final merits determination because the Petitioner did not satisfy the initial evidence threshold, but noted in passing that the record does not establish the required acclaim.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-05_01_B2203; source_row=30670
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Biomedical / Life Sciences

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

What the decision said

AAO reserved opinion on criterion (v) because even if satisfied, the Petitioner would still not meet at least three criteria overall.

Why this is useful

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

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AAO reserved opinion on criterion (v) because even if satisfied, the Petitioner would still not meet at least three criteria overall.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-05_01_B2203; source_row=30665
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Required U.S. bachelor's degree per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

USCIS must read and apply the plain language of the labor certification. Part H.9 unambiguously excludes foreign educational equivalents, and the record lacks evidence that the Beneficiary holds a U.S. bachelor's degree. USCIS lacks authority to amend a DOL form; the Petitioner must seek correction from DOL directly.

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USCIS must read and apply the plain language of the labor certification. Part H.9 unambiguously excludes foreign educational equivalents, and the record lacks evidence that the Beneficiary holds a U.S. bachelor's degree. USCIS lacks authority to amend a DOL form; the Petitioner must seek correction from DOL directly.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-05_05_B5203; source_row=30682
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Required seven years of qualifying employment experience per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The Petitioner has not sufficiently established approximately two years of claimed qualifying experience (July 2018 to June 2020) because: (1) the letter for the second insurance company period was authored by a purported former co-worker, not the employer, and no unavailability was shown; and (2) a letter for the first insurance company period shows a name discrepancy on the letterhead.…

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The Petitioner has not sufficiently established approximately two years of claimed qualifying experience (July 2018 to June 2020) because: (1) the letter for the second insurance company period was authored by a purported former co-worker, not the employer, and no unavailability was shown; and (2) a letter for the first insurance company period shows a name discrepancy on the letterhead. Without adequate proof of those two years, the required seven years of experience is unmet.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-05_05_B5203; source_row=30683
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Required seven years of experience with specified technological skills per labor certification

Why AAO was not persuaded

The labor certification requires seven years of experience with each of five designated technological skills. Although all employment letters reference the Beneficiary's experience with those skills, none specify the duration of experience with each skill. The Director had not notified the Petitioner of this deficiency, so the Petitioner must address it in future filings.

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The labor certification requires seven years of experience with each of five designated technological skills. Although all employment letters reference the Beneficiary's experience with those skills, none specify the duration of experience with each skill. The Director had not notified the Petitioner of this deficiency, so the Petitioner must address it in future filings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-05_05_B5203; source_row=30684
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · EB-2 baselineNot established

Case facts

Business / Management

Issue evaluated

NIW · EB-2 baseline

Advanced degree or equivalent qualification

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the record insufficient to establish advanced degree equivalency because the Petitioner's foreign bachelor's degree is in mechanical engineering — unrelated to the proposed business administration endeavor — and the regulations do not allow combining an unrelated bachelor's degree with a post-graduate certificate in a related field to satisfy the advanced degree equivalency requirement.

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AAO found the record insufficient to establish advanced degree equivalency because the Petitioner's foreign bachelor's degree is in mechanical engineering — unrelated to the proposed business administration endeavor — and the regulations do not allow combining an unrelated bachelor's degree with a post-graduate certificate in a related field to satisfy the advanced degree equivalency requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-04_01_B5203; source_row=30660
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed with the Director, finding that while the proposed endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show that it would impact the field broadly or generate substantial positive economic effects nationally.…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO agreed with the Director, finding that while the proposed endeavor has substantial merit, the Petitioner failed to show that it would impact the field broadly or generate substantial positive economic effects nationally. The expert's claims about addressing professional shortages, creating jobs, and spurring economic growth were found unpersuasive because they addressed the importance of the profession rather than the specific proposed endeavor, and lacked sufficient corroboration.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-03_02_B5203; source_row=30649
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found that one set of SimilarWeb statistics applied to the wrong website (champion.com rather than champion.com.ua), and for the remaining two websites, the record failed to contextualize the ranking and traffic statistics to show the sites constitute major media—particularly by explaining how a predominantly Ukrainian audience of any given size is significant enough.

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AAO found that one set of SimilarWeb statistics applied to the wrong website (champion.com rather than champion.com.ua), and for the remaining two websites, the record failed to contextualize the ranking and traffic statistics to show the sites constitute major media—particularly by explaining how a predominantly Ukrainian audience of any given size is significant enough.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2023-01-03_02_B2203; source_row=30646
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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