Outcome: Dismissed
AUG172026_01B2203
Our summary
Ph.D. student and research assistant in agriculture water management seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability. Met judging and scholarly articles criteria but not original contributions, falling short of three-criterion threshold. AAO found record does not establish acclaim required; 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
- Judging · AAO affirmed USCIS finding that petitioner satisfied criterion through peer review service for scientific journals.
- Scholarly articles · AAO affirmed USCIS finding that petitioner satisfied criterion through authorship of scholarly articles.
What was missing
- Awards · No evidence of major internationally recognized award; petitioner ineligible without one-time achievement.
- Original contributions · While petitioner made original contributions to water management and sustainable agriculture, evidence did not show major significance or widespread field impact.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Met | AAO affirmed USCIS finding that petitioner satisfied criterion through peer review service for scientific journals. | |
| Met | AAO affirmed USCIS finding that petitioner satisfied criterion through authorship of scholarly articles. | |
| Not met | No evidence of major internationally recognized award; petitioner ineligible without one-time achievement. | |
| Not met | While petitioner made original contributions to water management and sustainable agriculture, evidence did not show major significance or widespread field impact. | |
| Not reached / not discussed | Did not satisfy threshold initial evidence requirements; final merits determination reserved. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.
