EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided May 2026Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
MAY142026_03B2203
AwardsMetMembershipNot metPublished materialNot metFinal meritsNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
Competitive swimmer seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Claimed awards, membership, published materials, and leading role criteria. AAO found awards met but membership and published materials not met; petitioner satisfied only two of ten criteria, below three-criterion threshold. 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
- Awards · AAO withdrew SCOPS denial, found Polish National Swimming Championship medals nationally and internationally recognized.
What was missing
- Membership · Petitioner did not demonstrate membership in association requiring outstanding achievements as judged by recognized experts.
- Published material · Four articles listed petitioner only in passing with competition results, insufficient to meet criterion about petitioner.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Awards | Met | AAO withdrew SCOPS denial, found Polish National Swimming Championship medals nationally and internationally recognized. |
 Membership | Not met | Petitioner did not demonstrate membership in association requiring outstanding achievements as judged by recognized experts. |
 Published material | Not met | Four articles listed petitioner only in passing with competition results, insufficient to meet criterion about petitioner. |
 Final merits | Not reached / not discussed | Petitioner failed initial evidence threshold; final merits determination not reached or reserved. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.