EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided February 2023Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
FEB212023_02B2203
JudgingMetAwardsNot metOriginal contributionsNot metPublished materialNot metFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
A soccer coach sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The director found one criterion met (judging); the AAO affirmed only this finding. With one criterion met against the three required and no major award, the petitioner failed to demonstrate the sustained national or international acclaim required.
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 · Evidence establishes petitioner judges performance of soccer players he coaches in same field.
What was missing
- Awards · Petitioner failed to demonstrate coaching award is nationally or internationally recognized; insufficient evidence on selectivity and winners.
- Original contributions · Petitioner failed to establish original athletic contributions of major significance; coaching methods impact limited to specific clubs, not field broadly.
- Published material · Articles lack required authorship; unclear if articles are about petitioner; media major status not established; incomplete translations provided.
- Final merits · Aggregate record does not support finding of acclaim and recognition required for extraordinary ability; only one criterion met, three required.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Judging | Met | Evidence establishes petitioner judges performance of soccer players he coaches in same field. |
 Awards | Not met | Petitioner failed to demonstrate coaching award is nationally or internationally recognized; insufficient evidence on selectivity and winners. |
 Original contributions | Not met | Petitioner failed to establish original athletic contributions of major significance; coaching methods impact limited to specific clubs, not field broadly. |
 Published material | Not met | Articles lack required authorship; unclear if articles are about petitioner; media major status not established; incomplete translations provided. |
 Final merits | Not met | Aggregate record does not support finding of acclaim and recognition required for extraordinary ability; only one criterion met, three required. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.