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O-1AComputer science and AIEmployerDecided December 2025Dismissed

Outcome: Dismissed

DEC112025_01D8101

JudgingMetScholarly articlesMetAwardsNot metMembershipNot metPublished materialNot metHigh salaryClaimed, not analyzedLeading or critical roleClaimed, not analyzedOriginal contributionsClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot reached / not discussed

Our summary

Chief technology officer at healthcare AI company. Claimed five additional criteria beyond two met by service center. AAO found venture capital funding not a recognized prize or award, membership claim unsubstantiated, and published materials not substantially about beneficiary. Beneficiary failed three-criterion threshold; 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 · Service center found this criterion met; decision does not disturb this finding
  • Scholarly articles · Service center found this criterion met; decision does not disturb this finding

What was missing

  • Awards · Venture capital funding does not qualify as prize or award; not nationally or internationally recognized for excellence
  • Membership · Claimed membership in accelerator program but did not demonstrate membership requires outstanding achievements
  • Published material · Articles about competition did not mention beneficiary or establish substantial discussion of beneficiary's work

Criteria

CriterionReadingWhy
JudgingMetService center found this criterion met; decision does not disturb this finding
Scholarly articlesMetService center found this criterion met; decision does not disturb this finding
AwardsNot metVenture capital funding does not qualify as prize or award; not nationally or internationally recognized for excellence
MembershipNot metClaimed membership in accelerator program but did not demonstrate membership requires outstanding achievements
Published materialNot metArticles about competition did not mention beneficiary or establish substantial discussion of beneficiary's work
High salaryClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but decision does not discuss or analyze this criterion
Leading or critical roleClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but decision does not analyze this criterion
Original contributionsClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but not fully analyzed; decision indicates criterion discussed but analysis incomplete in excerpts
Final meritsNot reached / not discussedBeneficiary failed to meet three criteria threshold; final merits analysis not reached

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

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