EB-1ALaw, policy, social scienceIndividualDecided August 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
AUG112026_04B2203
Leading or critical roleMetAwardsNot metOriginal contributionsNot metPublished materialNot metFinal meritsNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
International consultant and policy analyst self-petitioner claimed four alternate criteria for extraordinary ability. AAO upheld USCIS denial, finding petitioner met only the leading role criterion but failed on awards, published material, and original contributions. Threshold of three criteria not satisfied; final merits declined.
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
- Leading or critical role · USCIS determined petitioner met this criterion; AAO did not disturb this finding.
What was missing
- Awards · Job promotions and letter of gratitude do not constitute nationally or internationally recognized prizes for excellence in field.
- Original contributions · Letter of gratitude vague and does not corroborate claimed direct role in drafting joint statement or original contributions.
- Published material · Radio Azattyk article mentioned petitioner only in passing; publication status not established as major medium.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Leading or critical role | Met | USCIS determined petitioner met this criterion; AAO did not disturb this finding. |
 Awards | Not met | Job promotions and letter of gratitude do not constitute nationally or internationally recognized prizes for excellence in field. |
 Original contributions | Not met | Letter of gratitude vague and does not corroborate claimed direct role in drafting joint statement or original contributions. |
 Published material | Not met | Radio Azattyk article mentioned petitioner only in passing; publication status not established as major medium. |
 Final merits | Not reached / not discussed | Petitioner failed to satisfy three initial evidentiary criteria threshold; final merits analysis not reached. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.