EB-1AFinance and economicsIndividualDecided May 2025Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
MAY222025_03B2203
Leading or critical roleMetAwardsNot metMembershipNot metPublished materialClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot met
Our summary
Co-founder and CEO of financial technology company claiming extraordinary ability through lesser awards, memberships, published materials, and leadership role. AAO found awards criterion not met because award belonged to employer; membership criterion not met because petitioner failed to demonstrate it applies; and overall record lacks evidence of sustained acclaim 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
- Leading or critical role · Service center found this criterion met; AAO does not disturb that finding
What was missing
- Awards · Award was to employer, not petitioner; no official certificate or recognition from awarding organization
- Membership · Petitioner did not demonstrate criterion readily applies or membership qualifies under requirements
- Final merits · Record lacks sufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim at top of field
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Leading or critical role | Met | Service center found this criterion met; AAO does not disturb that finding |
 Awards | Not met | Award was to employer, not petitioner; no official certificate or recognition from awarding organization |
 Membership | Not met | Petitioner did not demonstrate criterion readily applies or membership qualifies under requirements |
 Published material | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but decision does not analyze this criterion substantively |
 Final merits | Not met | Record lacks sufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim at top of field |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.