EB-1ALife sciences and medicineIndividualDecided 2009Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
Feb232009_01B2203
Original contributionsMetScholarly articlesMetAwardsNot metMembershipNot metFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
A junior cell biology researcher and faculty member sought extraordinary ability classification, claiming awards, membership, contributions and scholarly articles. The AAO found the contributions and articles criteria carried more weight than the director allowed, but rejected awards and membership. Overall evidence did not show sustained acclaim at the top of the field, so the appeal was 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
- Original contributions · The AAO agreed the contributions evidence deserved more weight than the director gave, accepting this criterion.
- Scholarly articles · The AAO agreed the published articles and presentations carry more weight than the director recognized, accepting this criterion.
What was missing
- Awards · Fellowships and academic merit scholarships are not lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes for excellence in the field.
- Membership · Society membership requirements for outstanding achievement were not documented, and membership in one society was not shown as of filing.
- Final merits · Evidence shows a talented junior faculty researcher, not sustained acclaim or standing at the very top of the field.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Original contributions | Met | The AAO agreed the contributions evidence deserved more weight than the director gave, accepting this criterion. |
 Scholarly articles | Met | The AAO agreed the published articles and presentations carry more weight than the director recognized, accepting this criterion. |
 Awards | Not met | Fellowships and academic merit scholarships are not lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes for excellence in the field. |
 Membership | Not met | Society membership requirements for outstanding achievement were not documented, and membership in one society was not shown as of filing. |
 Final merits | Not met | Evidence shows a talented junior faculty researcher, not sustained acclaim or standing at the very top of the field. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.