EB-1AEnergy and climateIndividualDecided 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
JUL222026_03B2203
AwardsMetMembershipMetPublished materialMetFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
An environmental scientist satisfied three evidentiary criteria but failed the final merits test. The AAO held recent awards and memberships lacked sustained national or international acclaim and did not demonstrate he ranked among the very top in 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
- Awards · Petitioner met at least three initial evidentiary criteria; USCIS explicitly found three satisfied
- Membership · Petitioner met at least three initial evidentiary criteria; USCIS found criteria satisfied
- Published material · Petitioner met at least three initial evidentiary criteria; USCIS found criteria satisfied
What was missing
- Final merits · Recent awards (months before filing) lack sustained national or international acclaim; insufficient to show top-tier status
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Awards | Met | Petitioner met at least three initial evidentiary criteria; USCIS explicitly found three satisfied |
 Membership | Met | Petitioner met at least three initial evidentiary criteria; USCIS found criteria satisfied |
 Published material | Met | Petitioner met at least three initial evidentiary criteria; USCIS found criteria satisfied |
 Final merits | Not met | Recent awards (months before filing) lack sustained national or international acclaim; insufficient to show top-tier status |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.