EB-1AArts, design, architectureIndividualDecided January 2020Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
JAN092020_02B2203
ExhibitionsMetAwardsNot metLeading or critical roleNot metMembershipNot metOriginal contributionsClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
Competitive ballroom dancer and instructor claimed extraordinary ability through three of ten criteria including awards, membership, and leading roles. AAO found only exhibitions criterion met; awards lacked national recognition, memberships were not from qualifying associations, and roles were not leading or critical. 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
- Exhibitions · Director found petitioner satisfied criterion relating to display of work in artistic exhibitions or showcases.
What was missing
- Awards · Certificates showed competition placements but failed to establish national or international recognition of awards.
- Leading or critical role · Reference letters did not establish leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation; roles were lower-level participation.
- Membership · Claimed membership in dance associations but did not establish membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements as judged by recognized experts.
- Final merits · Evidence in aggregate does not support acclaim and recognition required for extraordinary ability classification.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Exhibitions | Met | Director found petitioner satisfied criterion relating to display of work in artistic exhibitions or showcases. |
 Awards | Not met | Certificates showed competition placements but failed to establish national or international recognition of awards. |
 Leading or critical role | Not met | Reference letters did not establish leading or critical role for organizations with distinguished reputation; roles were lower-level participation. |
 Membership | Not met | Claimed membership in dance associations but did not establish membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements as judged by recognized experts. |
 Original contributions | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but not analyzed; petitioner abandoned this criterion on appeal. |
 Final merits | Not met | Evidence in aggregate does not support acclaim and recognition required for extraordinary ability classification. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.