EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided 2009Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
Dec032009_03B2203
AwardsNot metPublished materialNot metFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
Professional soccer player and instructor seeking EB-1A classification as self-petitioner. Claimed awards and published material from 1990s; intended to work as coach in United States. AAO found awards too old and awards from unclear league, articles stale, and coaching distinct from competitive playing. Appeal dismissed.
Official PDF
Official PDF ↗Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.
No criterion in the table was found met in this decision.
What was missing
- Awards · Best player of tournament award from unclear league level; too old and not indicative of sustained acclaim.
- Published material · Newspaper articles from approximately a decade before petition; insufficient to show sustained acclaim in 2008.
- Final merits · No evidence of sustained national or international acclaim; intent to work as coach, not player, not established in area of expertise.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Awards | Not met | Best player of tournament award from unclear league level; too old and not indicative of sustained acclaim. |
 Published material | Not met | Newspaper articles from approximately a decade before petition; insufficient to show sustained acclaim in 2008. |
 Final merits | Not met | No evidence of sustained national or international acclaim; intent to work as coach, not player, not established in area of expertise. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.