Outcome: Dismissed
MAR132026_01B2203
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
Official PDF ↗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
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Met | Service center found judging criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding | |
| Met | Service center found membership criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding | |
| Met | Service center found published material criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding | |
| Met | Service center found scholarly articles criterion satisfied; AAO did not disturb this finding | |
| Not met | No coverage or documentation of nationally or internationally recognized awards for excellence | |
| Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but not analyzed in detail by AAO on appeal | |
| Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but not analyzed in detail by AAO on appeal | |
| Not met | Limited 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.
