EB-1ABusiness and managementIndividualDecided January 2020Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
JAN282020_05B2203
High salaryMetLeading or critical roleMetOriginal contributionsNot metPublished materialNot metAwardsClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
Hospitality and culinary branding specialist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Petitioner claimed and director found four criteria met, but AAO found only two satisfied: leading role and high salary. Published material criterion failed due to local-only coverage; original contributions lacked field-wide significance. 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
- High salary · Director finding undisturbed that petitioner earned relatively high remuneration in field
- Leading or critical role · Director finding undisturbed that petitioner held leading role for distinguished organizations
What was missing
- Original contributions · Petitioner showed contributions to specific restaurant projects but not major significance to wider field
- Published material · Articles mentioned petitioner only briefly or appeared in local niche publications, not major media
- Final merits · Only two of ten criteria satisfied; final merits determination not required or reached
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 High salary | Met | Director finding undisturbed that petitioner earned relatively high remuneration in field |
 Leading or critical role | Met | Director finding undisturbed that petitioner held leading role for distinguished organizations |
 Original contributions | Not met | Petitioner showed contributions to specific restaurant projects but not major significance to wider field |
 Published material | Not met | Articles mentioned petitioner only briefly or appeared in local niche publications, not major media |
 Awards | Claimed, not analyzed | Petitioner did not claim or establish receipt of major internationally recognized award |
 Final merits | Not met | Only two of ten criteria satisfied; final merits determination not required or reached |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.