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EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided August 2025Dismissed

Outcome: Dismissed

AUG182025_01B2203

AwardsMetLeading or critical roleMetMembershipMetPublished materialMetFinal meritsNot met

Our summary

Professional baseball player seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Although petitioner satisfied four initial evidentiary criteria, final merits analysis found insufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim among small percentage at very top of field. Major League selection alone does not establish extraordinary ability.

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 petitioner met criterion for lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards.
  • Leading or critical role · SCOPS determined petitioner met criterion for performing leading or critical role for distinguished organizations.
  • Membership · SCOPS determined petitioner met criterion for membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement.
  • Published material · SCOPS determined petitioner met criterion for published material about him relating to his work.

What was missing

  • Final merits · Letters of support insufficient to establish sustained national or international acclaim at very top of field; media coverage not consistently positive; salary not commensurate with top players.

Criteria

CriterionReadingWhy
AwardsMetSCOPS determined petitioner met criterion for lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards.
Leading or critical roleMetSCOPS determined petitioner met criterion for performing leading or critical role for distinguished organizations.
MembershipMetSCOPS determined petitioner met criterion for membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement.
Published materialMetSCOPS determined petitioner met criterion for published material about him relating to his work.
Final meritsNot metLetters of support insufficient to establish sustained national or international acclaim at very top of field; media coverage not consistently positive; salary not commensurate with top players.

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

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