Outcome: Dismissed
SEP092022_02B2203
Our summary
A martial arts athlete self-petitioner sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO dismissed, finding the petitioner failed to meet three of ten evidentiary criteria. Awards lacked national/international recognition outside one association; membership status unsubstantiated; published material insufficient.
Official PDF
Official PDF ↗Published by USCIS. The summary is ours, in our own words; the decision text is on uscis.gov.
No criterion in the table was found met in this decision.
What was missing
- Awards · Awards earned only at events sanctioned by one association; not nationally or internationally recognized in overall martial arts field
- Membership · Petitioner did not establish that national team membership requires outstanding achievements as judged by recognized experts
- Published material · Single newspaper article not about petitioner; publication not established as professional, trade, or major media source
- Final merits · Petitioner does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement in top small percentage of field
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Not met | Awards earned only at events sanctioned by one association; not nationally or internationally recognized in overall martial arts field | |
| Not met | Petitioner did not establish that national team membership requires outstanding achievements as judged by recognized experts | |
| Not met | Single newspaper article not about petitioner; publication not established as professional, trade, or major media source | |
| Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed on appeal but not analyzed; three criteria threshold already unmet | |
| Not met | Petitioner does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement in top small percentage of field |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.
