Skip to content
Merito
← Back to results
EB-1AComputer science and AIIndividualDecided March 2026Dismissed

Outcome: Dismissed

MAR172026_01B2203

High salaryMetLeading or critical roleMetPublished materialMetScholarly articlesMetAwardsNot metMembershipNot metOriginal contributionsClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot reached / not discussed

Our summary

An IT specialist in cloud computing and cybersecurity sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. He claimed seven criteria; the Service Center found four met. On appeal, the AAO rejected awards and memberships as unmet and concluded the petitioner failed to satisfy the three-criterion threshold, so final merits was not addressed. 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 · Service Center determined criterion was satisfied; not disputed on appeal.
  • Leading or critical role · Service Center determined criterion was satisfied; AAO affirmed and not disputed.
  • Published material · Service Center determined criterion was satisfied; not disputed on appeal.
  • Scholarly articles · Service Center determined authorship criterion was satisfied; not disputed on appeal.

What was missing

  • Awards · Company awards honored only employees, not excellence in the broader field.
  • Membership · Senior membership does not require outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.

Criteria

CriterionReadingWhy
High salaryMetService Center determined criterion was satisfied; not disputed on appeal.
Leading or critical roleMetService Center determined criterion was satisfied; AAO affirmed and not disputed.
Published materialMetService Center determined criterion was satisfied; not disputed on appeal.
Scholarly articlesMetService Center determined authorship criterion was satisfied; not disputed on appeal.
AwardsNot metCompany awards honored only employees, not excellence in the broader field.
MembershipNot metSenior membership does not require outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
Original contributionsClaimed, not analyzedClaimed but not contested on appeal; petitioner waived this issue.
Final meritsNot reached / not discussedThreshold initial evidence requirement not met; final merits not reached.

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

Similar decisions

Decisions whose text is closest to this one.