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EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided May 2025Remanded

Outcome: Remanded

MAY282025_04B2203

AwardsMetLeading or critical roleMetPublished materialMetHigh salaryNot metOriginal contributionsNot metFinal meritsNot reached / not discussed

Our summary

A professional soccer player sought extraordinary ability classification, claiming five criteria. The AAO found awards and published material met, rejected original contributions and high salary, and sustained leading role. With three criteria satisfied, the case was remanded for a final merits analysis of sustained national or international acclaim.

Official PDF

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Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.

What the AAO accepted

  • Awards · SCOPS found criterion met; AAO did not disturb this conclusion
  • Leading or critical role · Consistently high scoring record demonstrates critical role for distinguished teams
  • Published material · SCOPS found criterion met; AAO did not disturb this conclusion

What was missing

  • High salary · Petitioner did not establish high salary relative to others in field
  • Original contributions · Petitioner failed to show original contributions of major significance in soccer field

Criteria

CriterionReadingWhy
AwardsMetSCOPS found criterion met; AAO did not disturb this conclusion
Leading or critical roleMetConsistently high scoring record demonstrates critical role for distinguished teams
Published materialMetSCOPS found criterion met; AAO did not disturb this conclusion
High salaryNot metPetitioner did not establish high salary relative to others in field
Original contributionsNot metPetitioner failed to show original contributions of major significance in soccer field
Final meritsNot reached / not discussedThree criteria satisfied; remanded for final merits determination on sustained acclaim

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

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