EB-1ASports and athleticsEmployerDecided September 2021Sustained
Outcome: Sustained
SEP222021_02B2203
AwardsMetLeading or critical roleMetMembershipMetPublished materialMetFinal meritsMet
Our summary
A sports club petitioned for its coach, a former Olympic-level competitor, claiming extraordinary ability. The director accepted four criteria but denied on final merits regarding coaching recognition. The AAO sustained the appeal, finding the beneficiary reached the top as an athlete and sustained that acclaim as a coach.
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
- Awards · Director accepted the beneficiary's athletic awards, including a championship gold medal, as satisfying the criterion.
- Leading or critical role · Coaching position accepted as a leading or critical role at an organization with distinguished reputation.
- Membership · Olympic team membership in two games was accepted as qualifying membership.
- Published material · Director found major media attention to the beneficiary as an international athlete.
- Final merits · Acclaim as an athlete was sustained into coaching at the same top level.
What was missing
Every criterion in the table was found met.
Criteria
| Criterion | Reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
 Awards | Met | Director accepted the beneficiary's athletic awards, including a championship gold medal, as satisfying the criterion. |
 Leading or critical role | Met | Coaching position accepted as a leading or critical role at an organization with distinguished reputation. |
 Membership | Met | Olympic team membership in two games was accepted as qualifying membership. |
 Published material | Met | Director found major media attention to the beneficiary as an international athlete. |
 Final merits | Met | Acclaim as an athlete was sustained into coaching at the same top level. |
A published decision describes one case. It is not legal advice and not a prediction for yours.