EB-1ALife sciences and medicineIndividualDecided January 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
JAN082026_02B2203
High salaryMetJudgingMetScholarly articlesMetAwardsClaimed, not analyzedCommercial successClaimed, not analyzedExhibitionsClaimed, not analyzedLeading or critical roleClaimed, not analyzedMembershipClaimed, not analyzedOriginal contributionsClaimed, not analyzedPublished materialClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
Medical director and research scientist petitioner sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. She met three evidentiary criteria through judging, scholarly articles, and high salary, but the AAO held she failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim or position among the small percentage at the very top of her field.
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
- High salary · Service center found petitioner commanded high salary compared to others in field
- Judging · Service center found petitioner judged work of others in field; AAO accepts this finding
- Scholarly articles · Service center found petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional publications
What was missing
- Final merits · Petitioner has not demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim or position among small percentage at very top
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 High salary | Met | Service center found petitioner commanded high salary compared to others in field |
 Judging | Met | Service center found petitioner judged work of others in field; AAO accepts this finding |
 Scholarly articles | Met | Service center found petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional publications |
 Awards | Claimed, not analyzed | Petitioner did not claim major internationally recognized award; criterion waived by regulation |
 Commercial success | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed by petitioner but AAO declined to analyze given final merits failure |
 Exhibitions | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed by petitioner but AAO declined to analyze given final merits failure |
 Leading or critical role | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed by petitioner but AAO declined to analyze given final merits failure |
 Membership | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed by petitioner on appeal but AAO declined to analyze given final merits failure |
 Original contributions | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed by petitioner but AAO declined to analyze given final merits failure |
 Published material | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed by petitioner but decision does not analyze separately from scholarly articles |
 Final merits | Not met | Petitioner has not demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim or position among small percentage at very top |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.