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EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsIndividualDecided March 2026Dismissed

Outcome: Dismissed

MAR132026_01B2203

JudgingMetMembershipMetPublished materialMetScholarly articlesMetAwardsNot metHigh salaryClaimed, not analyzedLeading or critical roleClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot met

Our summary

A digital media marketing strategist and agency founder claims extraordinary ability. She met four initial criteria (membership, published material, judging, scholarly articles) but failed on awards and final merits. AAO held her achievements from 2019–2025 lack the sustained, high-impact recognition required for this elite classification.

Official PDF

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Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.

What the AAO accepted

  • Judging · Service center found judging criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
  • Membership · Service center found membership criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
  • Published material · Service center found published material criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
  • Scholarly articles · Service center found scholarly articles criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding

What was missing

  • Awards · No coverage or documentation of nationally or internationally recognized awards for excellence
  • Final merits · Limited and modest evidentiary record fails to show sustained acclaim or top-tier status in field

Criteria

CriterionReadingWhy
JudgingMetService center found judging criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
MembershipMetService center found membership criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
Published materialMetService center found published material criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
Scholarly articlesMetService center found scholarly articles criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding
AwardsNot metNo coverage or documentation of nationally or internationally recognized awards for excellence
High salaryClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but not analyzed in detail by AAO on appeal
Leading or critical roleClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but not analyzed in detail by AAO on appeal
Final meritsNot metLimited and modest evidentiary record fails to show sustained acclaim or top-tier status in field

A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.

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