EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided June 2024Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
JUN182024_01B2203
AwardsMetLeading or critical roleMetMembershipMetPublished materialMetFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
A retired professional soccer player seeks EB-1A classification. He satisfied four initial evidentiary criteria. However, the AAO affirmed the director's final merits finding that his career lacked sustained national or international acclaim, with media coverage concentrated in 2011-2015 rather than throughout his career.
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 · Director found petitioner met lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards criterion.
- Leading or critical role · Director found leading or critical role for distinguished organization criterion met.
- Membership · Director found membership in association requiring outstanding achievements criterion met.
- Published material · Director found published materials in major media criterion met.
What was missing
- Final merits · Record does not establish sustained national or international acclaim; media coverage concentrated in 2011-2015 without sustained acclaim or top-of-field status demonstrated.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Awards | Met | Director found petitioner met lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards criterion. |
 Leading or critical role | Met | Director found leading or critical role for distinguished organization criterion met. |
 Membership | Met | Director found membership in association requiring outstanding achievements criterion met. |
 Published material | Met | Director found published materials in major media criterion met. |
 Final merits | Not met | Record does not establish sustained national or international acclaim; media coverage concentrated in 2011-2015 without sustained acclaim or top-of-field status demonstrated. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.