Outcome: Dismissed
MAY122025_03B2203
Our summary
Professional soccer player seeking EB-1A as intending soccer coach. AAO dismissed appeal, finding only two of six claimed criteria met. Petitioner lacked coaching evidence and sustained acclaim in new field; transition from athlete to coach does not satisfy extraordinary ability standard for small percentage at field's top.
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 · Won Brazilian national championships with teams in 2009 and 2011
- Published material · Record contained media articles relating to his professional soccer career
What was missing
- Membership · Employment on team rosters did not satisfy membership criterion requirements
- Final merits · Only met two of three criteria minimum; no sustained acclaim as coach; transitioning from athlete to coach insufficient
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Met | Won Brazilian national championships with teams in 2009 and 2011 | |
| Met | Record contained media articles relating to his professional soccer career | |
| Not met | Employment on team rosters did not satisfy membership criterion requirements | |
| Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but not analyzed for remaining criteria | |
| Not met | Only met two of three criteria minimum; no sustained acclaim as coach; transitioning from athlete to coach insufficient |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.
