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EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided April 2026Dismissed

Outcome: Dismissed

APR222026_01B2203

AwardsMetHigh salaryClaimed, not analyzedMembershipClaimed, not analyzedOriginal contributionsClaimed, not analyzedPublished materialClaimed, not analyzedScholarly articlesClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot reached / not discussed

Our summary

Retired professional padel player ranked number one for 13 years sought extraordinary ability classification as coach. AAO determined only two of seven claimed criteria were met. Initial evidence threshold of three criteria not satisfied; final merits determination reserved. Appeal dismissed.

Official PDF

Official PDF ↗

Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.

What the AAO accepted

  • Awards · SCOPS determined criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding

What was missing

Every criterion in the table was found met.

Criteria

CriterionReadingWhy
AwardsMetSCOPS determined criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
High salaryClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but analysis reserved; not reached due to failure on initial criteria threshold
MembershipClaimed, not analyzedClaimed on appeal but not analyzed; reserved for potential final merits determination
Original contributionsClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but analysis reserved; not reached due to failure on initial criteria threshold
Published materialClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but analysis reserved; not reached due to failure on initial criteria threshold
Scholarly articlesClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but analysis reserved; not reached due to failure on initial criteria threshold
Final meritsNot reached / not discussedDeclined to reach; initial evidence threshold not met, making final merits determination unnecessary

A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.

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