AAO Non-Precedent Decisions

The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) generally issues non-precedent decisions. These apply existing law and policy to the facts of a given case. A non-precedent decision is binding on the parties involved in the case, but does not create or modify agency guidance or practice. We do not announce new constructions of law nor establish agency policy through non-precedent decisions. As a result, non-precedent decisions do not provide a basis for applying new or alternative interpretations of law or policy. Visit our Adopted AAO Decisions page or the U.S. Department of Justice website to see our precedent decisions.

AAO Non-Precedent Decision Repository

Enter search term(s) to perform a full text search of AAO non-precedent decisions.

Using the AAO Non-Precedent Decision Repository

You can search most non-precedent decisions dating back to 2005 in our repository above.  If you are searching for an AAO decision before 2005, please contact the USCIS Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FOIA) Office.

USCIS redacts personally identifiable information and other sensitive material from non-precedent decisions before the decisions are made public. The first page of the scanned decisions contains a notation (for example, "(b)(6)") to indicate the applicable FOIA exception under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6).

See the Accessibility section for more information on accessing decisions housed in our repository.

AAO Non-Precedent Decision Search Tips

Text Search:

If you seek a specific case and know a portion or all of the case citation string, search with the following decision identifiers:

  • Case ID# (Example: 93808)
  • Case matter name in quotes (Example:  “Matter of X- H-”).

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Some non-precedent decision folders are empty. No appeals were posted for that period.

Form

Subject Matter

Law or Regulation

I-129

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Treaty Investor (E-2)

8 C.F.R. § 214.2(e)

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Temporary Worker in a Specialty Occupation or Fashion Model – H-1B)

Section (Sec.) 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Temporary Worker Performing Agricultural Labor or Services – H-2A)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Temporary Worker Performing Non-Agricultural Labor or Services – H-2B)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Trainee – H-3)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(H)(iii) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Intracompany Transferee – L-1)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(L) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Extraordinary Ability – O)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(O) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Athlete, Artist, or Entertainer – P)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(P) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (International Exchange or Cultural Worker – Q)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(Q) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Religious Worker – R-1)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(R) of the INA

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Free Trade Agreement / NAFTA Professional – TN)

Sec. 214(e) of the INA

I-129CW

Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker

Pub. L. 94–241, § 6(d), 90 Stat. 263 (1976), as added by Pub. L. No. 110–229, § 702(a), 122 Stat. 754 (2008)

I-129F

Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Sec. 101(a)(15)(K) of the INA

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (Adam Walsh Act Only) Sec. 201(b) of the INA

I-131

Application for Issuance of Reentry Permit

8 C.F.R. § 223.1(a)

Application for Refugee Travel Document

8 C.F.R. § 223.1(b)

I-140

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Extraordinary Ability)

Sec. 203(b)(1)(A) of the INA

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Outstanding Professors/Researchers)

Sec. 203(b)(1)(B) of the INA

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Multinational Managers/Executives)

Sec. 203(b)(1)(C) of the INA

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Advanced Degree, Exceptional Ability, National Interest Waiver)

Secs. 203(b)(2)(A)-(B) of the INA

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Professionals)

Secs. 203(b)(3)(A)(i)-(ii) of the INA

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Skilled Workers; filed after 1/6/2010)

Sec. 203(b)(3)(A)(i) of the INA

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Other Workers)

Sec. 203(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the INA

I-212

Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal

Secs. 212(a)(9)(A)(iii), 212(a)(9)(C)(ii) of the INA

I-352 (PDF)

Breach of Delivery Bond

8 C.F.R. § 103.6

Breach of Maintenance of Status Bond

8 C.F.R. § 103.6

Breach of Voluntary Departure Bond

8 C.F.R. § 240.25(b)

I-360

Petition for Abused Parent of U.S. Citizen

Sec. 204(a)(1)(A)(vii) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Employee or Former Employee of U.S. Government Abroad

Sec. 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA

Petition to Classify Amerasian as Child of U.S. Citizen

8 C.F.R. § 204.4; Pub. L. No. 97-359; Sec. 204(f) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile

Sec. 101(a)(27)(J) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Religious Worker

Sec. 101(a)(27)(C) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Employee of Panama Canal Company, U.S. Government in Canal Zone, or Canal Zone Government

Secs. 101(a)(27)(E), (F), (G) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Physician

Sec. 101(a)(27)(H) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Employee of an International Organization

Sec. 101(a)(27)(I) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Armed Forces Member

Sec. 101(a)(27)(K) of the INA

Petition for Battered or Abused Spouse or Child under VAWA

Secs. 204(a)(1)(A)(iii), 204(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the INA

Petition for Special Immigrant Status as an Afghan or Iraqi Translator

Sec. 101(a)(27) of the INA; Nat’l Def. Auth. Act for Fiscal Yr. 2006, Pub. L. No. 109-163, § 1059, 119 Stat. 3136 (2006)

Petition for Special Immigrant Status as an Iraqi Employee of the U.S. Government

Sec. 101(a)(27) of the INA; Nat’l Def. Auth. Act for Fiscal Yr. 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-181, § 1244, 122 Stat. 3 (2008)

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Sec. 245 of the INA

Application for Adjustment of Status of Alien in T Nonimmigrant Status

Sec. 245(l)(1) of the INA

Application for Adjustment of Status of Alien in U Nonimmigrant Status

Sec. 245(m)(1) of the INA

Application for Adjustment of Status of Indochinese Refugees

Act of Oct. 28, 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-145, § 103, 91 Stat. 1223 (1977)

Application for Adjustment of Status of Certain Cuban Nationals

Cuban Adjustment Act, Pub. L. No. 89-732, 80 Stat. 1161 (1966)

Certification of Adjustment of Status for Cuban Nationals

Cuban Adjustment Act, Pub. L. No. 89-732, § 1, 80 Stat. 1161 (1966)

Application for Adjustment of Status of Certain Haitian Nationals

8 C.F.R. § 245.15

Application for Adjustment of Status of Diplomat

8 C.F.R. § 245.3; Sec. 13 of the Act of Sept. 11, 1957

I-526

Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur

Sec. 203(b)(5) of the INA

I-539

Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

Sec. 248(a) of the INA; 8 C.F.R. § 248.3

Adjustment of Status of Certain Resident Aliens to Nonimmigrant Status (A, E, G)

Sec. 247 of the INA

I-600

Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative

Sec. 101(b)(1)(F) of the INA; 8 C.F.R. § 204.3

I-600A

Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

Sec. 101(b)(1)(F) of the INA; 8 C.F.R. § 204.3

I-601

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Membership in Totalitarian Party)

Sec. 212(a)(3)(D) of the INA

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Unlawful Presence)

Sec. 212(a)(9)(B)(v) of the INA

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (National Interest Exemption)

Sec. 212(d)(1) of the INA

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Alien Smuggling)

Sec. 212(d)(11) of the INA

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Health-Related)

Sec. 212(g) of the INA

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Criminal and Related)

Sec. 212(h) of the INA

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Fraud or Misrepresentation)

Sec. 212(i) of the INA

I-612

Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement

Sec. 212(e) of the INA

I-687

Legalization: Application for Temporary Resident Status

Sec. 245A(a) of the INA

Legalization: Termination of Temporary Resident Status

Sec. 245A(b)(2) of the INA

I-690

Legalization and Special Agricultural Workers: Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility

Secs. 210(c), 245A(d)(2) of the INA

I-698/I-485 LIFE

Legalization: Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident

Sec. 245A of the INA; Sec. 1104 of the LIFE Act of 2000

I-700

Special Agricultural Workers: Application for Adjustment to Permanent Resident Status

Sec. 210(a)(2) of the INA

Special Agricultural Workers: Application for Temporary Resident Status

Sec. 210(a)(1) of the INA

Special Agricultural Workers: Termination of Temporary Resident Status

Sec. 210(a)(3) of the INA

I-800

Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative

Sec. 101(b)(1)(G) of the INA

I-800A

Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country

Sec. 101(b)(1)(G) of the INA

I-821

Application for Temporary Protected Status

Sec. 244 of the INA

I-829

Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions

Sec. 216A of the INA

I-905

Application for Authorization to Issue Certification for Health Care Workers

Secs. 212(a)(5)(C), 212(r) of the INA

I-914

Application for T Nonimmigrant Status

Sec. 101(a)(15)(T) of the INA

I-918

Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

Sec. 101(a)(15)(U) of the INA

I-924

Application For Regional Center Under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program

Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 102-395, § 610, 106 Stat. 1828 (1992); 8 C.F.R. § 204.6(m)

I-929

Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant

Sec. 245(m)(3) of the INA

N-470

Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes

Sec. 316(b) of the INA; 8 C.F.R. § 316.5(d)

N-565

Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document

Sec. 343(a)of the INA

N-600

Application for Certificate of Citizenship

Sec. 341 of the INA

None

Administrative Cancellation of Certificates, Documents, or Records

Sec. 342 of the INA

None

Revocation of Naturalization

Sec. 340 of the INA

None

Application for Certificate of Naturalization of Adopted Children

Sec. 323 of the INA (repealed 1978)

None

Application for Special Certificate of Naturalization

Sec. 343(b) of the INA

None

Denial of Adjustment for Not Establishing Bona Fide Marriage Exemption

Sec. 245(e) of the Act

None

Invalidation of Temporary Labor Certificates Issued by Governor of Guam

8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(6)(v)(H)

None

Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Students

Secs. 101(a)(15)(F)(i), 101(a)(15)(M)(i) of the INA

None

Revocation of Approval of Immigrant Visa Petition

Sec. 205 of the INA

None

Revocation of Approval of Nonimmigrant Visa Petition

Sec. 205 of the INA

 

Accessibility

The decisions in this collection are published in PDF format. You will need Adobe Reader 8 or higher to view them.  The PDFs from this section of our website may not be fully accessible under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. You may request fully accessible decisions by sending an email to USCIS.Webmaster@dhs.gov with the subject line “Administrative Decisions.”  In your email, indicate the date, title, citation string and code letter of the individual decision and the file name of the PDF.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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