Published AAO appeal decisions

Employer-sponsored dancer claims extraordinary ability through awards, published material, and prior O-1 nonimmigrant classification. AAO dismissed appeal, finding awards lack required recognition, articles missing translations and credentials, and prior O-1 status irrelevant to EB-1A standard. No sustained acclaim shown.

Associate professor of mathematics at Moscow Aviation Institute. Initially approved petition was revoked for failure to meet extraordinary ability standard. AAO found awards reflected local institutional recognition only, publications lacked major media documentation, and evidence did not demonstrate top-level sustained acclaim. Appeal dismissed.

A writer and poet sought extraordinary ability classification. He claimed awards, membership, published material, and judging experience. The AAO found awards showed only institutional recognition, membership criteria unmet, published articles lacked required translations and major publication venue, and judging did not demonstrate top-tier acclaim. Appeal dismissed.

A research scientist sought extraordinary ability classification. He claimed awards, membership, published material, and judging experience. The AAO found the research grant primarily attributed to principal investigators, not the petitioner; membership criteria unmet; publications not primarily about petitioner and lacking author attribution; and judging did not establish top-tier acclaim. Appeal dismissed.

Amateur natural bodybuilder seeks EB-1A. Decision holds petitioner failed to establish extraordinary ability despite claiming five criteria met. Awards from amateur competitions not nationally or internationally recognized; published article alone insufficient; membership based on local evaluation only. Amateur competition level inconsistent with very top of field.

Table tennis competitor seeks EB-1A. Decision holds petitioner failed to meet three required criteria. Old awards reflect local recognition only; single newspaper article insufficient for published material criterion; no judging evidence provided. No sustained national or international acclaim established.

A stage show director in Philippines seeking EB-1A claimed three criteria met. The AAO rejected the awards, published material, and exhibitions criteria as failing to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim, and dismissed the appeal because the evidence did not establish extraordinary ability.

A medical scientist's EB-1A petition was initially approved then revoked by California Service Center. AAO upheld revocation, finding petitioner failed to satisfy three regulatory criteria and lacked sustained acclaim placing him at the top of his scientific field.

A business researcher petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability in business. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding petitioner met only two required criteria; evidence of talent insufficient to establish sustained national or international acclaim or placement at the very top of the field.

Gladiator athlete sought extraordinary ability classification. AAO upheld denial finding insufficient primary evidence of awards, non-qualifying membership, and articles lacking national or international reach; expert letter opinions cannot form cornerstone of claim.

Female vocalist in Argentina sought extraordinary ability based on international song festival award and published materials. AAO dismissed finding no primary award evidence, articles lacking national reach, and insufficient evidence of sustained acclaim at top level.

Oil painter filed EB-1A petition with evidence of exhibitions in multiple countries. AAO found exhibitions criterion met but rejected awards, membership, and publications as lacking national or international recognition. Overall evidence insufficient to establish extraordinary ability at field's apex.