Published AAO appeal decisions

Telecommunications company petitioned for telecommunications engineer beneficiary as EB-1A. Beneficiary claimed original contributions via dispatch architecture invention. AAO found three criteria satisfied including original contributions and determined totality of evidence showed sustained national acclaim and extraordinary ability warranting approval.

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.

Gymnastics facility seeks to classify acrobatic gymnast coach as extraordinary ability. AAO dismissed, finding competitive championships from 1990–1993 cannot evidence sustained acclaim as coach; no evidence that primarily coached athletes won national or higher titles. Prior athlete status insufficient.

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 Initially approved petition was revoked for failure to meet extraordinary ability standard.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.

Employer-sponsored blues musician petition. The AAO found beneficiary met at least three criteria through magazine awards, publications, gold records, and festival performances. Aggregate evidence demonstrated sustained national acclaim and extraordinary ability in the performing arts. Appeal sustained and petition approved.

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.

Beneficiary executive sous chef sought EB-1A classification through employer petition. Claimed awards and critical role criteria. AAO found award not nationally or internationally recognized and sous chef position not sufficiently critical. Overall evidence insufficient to establish sustained acclaim at very top of culinary field.

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 machine shop petitioned for a beneficiary for EB-1A extraordinary ability. No evidence of major award or three regulatory criteria was submitted despite notice of intent to deny. AAO found no sustained acclaim or evidence of intent to continue work in the United States, dismissing the appeal.

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.

An electrical engineer petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability in sciences. The AAO sustained the appeal, finding petitioner met three regulatory criteria through invention of significant microwave technology, substantial publications, and important contributions to the research field, demonstrating sustained acclaim.

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.

Employer-sponsored petition for beneficiary claiming extraordinary ability. Director found beneficiary failed to meet three regulatory criteria. Appeal summarily dismissed because petitioner failed to provide specific arguments challenging findings or promised evidence within nine months.

Employer-sponsored petition for beneficiary claiming extraordinary ability in the arts. Previously approved petition revoked. Award analyzed and found to reflect only provincial recognition. No clear evidence of continued work in area of expertise in United States. Revocation sustained.

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.

Commercial printing company petitioner seeking classification for beneficiary in business. Claimed beneficiary won prestigious awards and selections; AAO found special assignments and cadet-level awards lack required national or international recognition. Evidence insufficient to show extraordinary ability among small percentage at top of field.

Biophysics researcher seeking EB-1A in sciences. Counsel submitted brief and evidence addressing awards, membership, judging, original contributions, and scholarly articles criteria. AAO upheld denial, finding only scholarly articles criterion met but overall evidence insufficient for extraordinary ability at very top level of field.