EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsIndividualDecided December 2025Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
DEC092025_01B2203
JudgingMetLeading or critical roleMetScholarly articlesMetOriginal contributionsClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
Assistant professor of advertising seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification claimed four criteria; met three (judging, scholarly articles, leading role). AAO dismissed appeal, finding petitioner failed final merits step: evidence does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim required to place her among field's top tier.
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 · Petitioner participated as judge of others' work in the field.
- Leading or critical role · Petitioner performed leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputations.
- Scholarly articles · Petitioner authored scholarly articles published between 2021 and 2024.
What was missing
- Final merits · Petitioner lacks sustained national or international acclaim; recognition limited to personal acquaintances.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Judging | Met | Petitioner participated as judge of others' work in the field. |
 Leading or critical role | Met | Petitioner performed leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputations. |
 Scholarly articles | Met | Petitioner authored scholarly articles published between 2021 and 2024. |
 Original contributions | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but not analyzed as criterion for extraordinary ability determination. |
 Final merits | Not met | Petitioner lacks sustained national or international acclaim; recognition limited to personal acquaintances. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.