Outcome: Dismissed
JAN062020_01B2203
Our summary
A special education researcher sought EB-1A classification. AAO found she met only two criteria: judging and scholarly articles. Original contributions rejected because reference letters lacked specifics and citations did not demonstrate major significance beyond local context. 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 · Reviewed papers for journals and served as judge of others' work
- Scholarly articles · Authored scholarly articles in peer-reviewed publications
What was missing
- Original contributions · Reference letters lacked specificity; citations insufficient; research impact shown only locally, not field-wide
- Final merits · Failed three-criterion threshold; final merits analysis not required
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Met | Reviewed papers for journals and served as judge of others' work | |
| Met | Authored scholarly articles in peer-reviewed publications | |
| Not met | Reference letters lacked specificity; citations insufficient; research impact shown only locally, not field-wide | |
| Claimed, not analyzed | Not claimed or established; major internationally recognized award required | |
| Not met | Failed three-criterion threshold; final merits analysis not required |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.
