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EB-1ASports and athleticsIndividualDecided November 2020Dismissed

Outcome: Dismissed

NOV302020_05B2203

AwardsMetJudgingMetPublished materialMetFinal meritsNot met

Our summary

Martial arts athlete and coach in taekwondo, muay thai, and hapkido sought extraordinary ability classification. AAO found he met three evidentiary criteria: national awards, published material, and judging. However, the final merits analysis concluded he lacked sustained national or international acclaim required for EB-1A.

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 · National-level awards received as taekwondo and muay thai athlete at top events meet criterion
  • Judging · Certified as international level hapkido judge and international level referee
  • Published material · Single article in major newspaper about petitioner meets published material criterion

What was missing

  • Final merits · Despite meeting three criteria, record does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or place among small percentage at top of martial arts field

Criteria

CriterionReadingWhy
AwardsMetNational-level awards received as taekwondo and muay thai athlete at top events meet criterion
JudgingMetCertified as international level hapkido judge and international level referee
Published materialMetSingle article in major newspaper about petitioner meets published material criterion
Final meritsNot metDespite meeting three criteria, record does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or place among small percentage at top of martial arts field

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

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