EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided August 2022Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
AUG042022_03B2203
AwardsMetLeading or critical roleMetMembershipMetPublished materialMetFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
A soccer player met four initial extraordinary ability criteria but failed the final merits test. AAO found his 15-year career and media coverage did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of professional soccer.
Official PDF
The official PDF link for this decision is being verified.
Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.
What the AAO accepted
- Awards · Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding.
- Leading or critical role · Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding.
- Membership · Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding.
- Published material · Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding.
What was missing
- Final merits · Career lacked sustained acclaim; awards concentrated in 2015; no evidence of distinguished performance among top echelon players.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Awards | Met | Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding. |
 Leading or critical role | Met | Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding. |
 Membership | Met | Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding. |
 Published material | Met | Service center found criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb finding. |
 Final merits | Not met | Career lacked sustained acclaim; awards concentrated in 2015; no evidence of distinguished performance among top echelon players. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.