EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsIndividualDecided September 2024Dismissed
Outcome: Dismissed
SEP162024_01B2203
Leading or critical roleMetAwardsNot metJudgingNot metMembershipNot metScholarly articlesNot metOriginal contributionsClaimed, not analyzedPublished materialClaimed, not analyzedFinal meritsNot reached / not discussed
Our summary
A global brand and marketing communications director sought extraordinary ability classification, initially claiming nine criteria. The AAO found only the leading or critical role criterion satisfied, others unmet or waived, so the three-criterion threshold was not reached and the appeal was 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
- Leading or critical role · Petitioner held a leading role for an organization with a distinguished reputation.
What was missing
- Awards · Degrees and certificates are not prizes or awards; issue waived on appeal.
- Judging · Petitioner did not contest the Director's conclusion, so the issue was waived.
- Membership · Conferences and award ceremonies were not associations requiring outstanding achievement; issue waived on appeal.
- Scholarly articles · Petitioner did not contest the Director's conclusion, so the issue was waived.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Leading or critical role | Met | Petitioner held a leading role for an organization with a distinguished reputation. |
 Awards | Not met | Degrees and certificates are not prizes or awards; issue waived on appeal. |
 Judging | Not met | Petitioner did not contest the Director's conclusion, so the issue was waived. |
 Membership | Not met | Conferences and award ceremonies were not associations requiring outstanding achievement; issue waived on appeal. |
 Scholarly articles | Not met | Petitioner did not contest the Director's conclusion, so the issue was waived. |
 Original contributions | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but not analyzed in the condensed text available. |
 Published material | Claimed, not analyzed | Claimed but not analyzed in the condensed text available. |
 Final merits | Not reached / not discussed | Only one criterion was met, so the initial evidentiary threshold failed. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.