EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided May 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
MAY142026_02B2203
AwardsMetJudgingMetPublished materialMetFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
An MMA fighter sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO dismissed motions to reopen and reconsider, affirming that while the petitioner met three initial criteria through awards, published material, and judging, the record did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the very top of the field.
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 · Petitioner satisfied awards criterion; wins in MMA competitions at featherweight and other categories.
- Judging · Petitioner satisfied judging criterion by serving as referee for competitions.
- Published material · Petitioner satisfied published material criterion through evidence submitted.
What was missing
- Final merits · Totality of evidence did not show sustained national or international acclaim or small percentage at top of field; limited media coverage and ranking context insufficient.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Awards | Met | Petitioner satisfied awards criterion; wins in MMA competitions at featherweight and other categories. |
 Judging | Met | Petitioner satisfied judging criterion by serving as referee for competitions. |
 Published material | Met | Petitioner satisfied published material criterion through evidence submitted. |
 Final merits | Not met | Totality of evidence did not show sustained national or international acclaim or small percentage at top of field; limited media coverage and ranking context insufficient. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.