Published AAO appeal decisions

Ice figure skater sought EB-1A classification. Petitioner met awards criterion but failed membership criterion because associations did not require outstanding achievement. Final merits analysis found evidence insufficient to demonstrate sustained acclaim at very top of field.

Petitioner sought EB-1A classification. Director found petitioner failed to meet awards, published material, judging, and original contributions criteria. Counsel abandoned most issues on appeal. AAO concluded evidence does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or top-tier status.

Petroleum engineer claiming extraordinary ability as deepwater well specialist. Petitioner claimed awards and association membership. AAO found internal company recognition insufficient and membership requirement not met. Final merits determination found achievements did not demonstrate sustained acclaim at top of field.

Culinary artist specializing in Peruvian cuisine claiming extraordinary ability. Petitioner submitted single first-place award. AAO held award lacked national or international recognition and regulation requires multiple awards. Final merits determination found insufficient evidence of sustained acclaim.

A software engineer filed for EB-1A extraordinary ability. The AAO upheld denial, finding the petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim. Awards were not personally received by the petitioner; playing a critical role in an award-winning project is insufficient under plain regulatory language.

An athlete sought extraordinary ability classification, and the director found no sustained acclaim or top-of-field standing. Counsel's appeal made only general claims of arbitrary decision-making and promised a brief that never arrived. The AAO summarily dismissed the appeal for failing to identify any specific legal or factual error.

A gymnast/acrobat claimed one-time achievement through second-place finishes and appealed the director's denial. The AAO dismissed the appeal, holding that second-place awards do not qualify as major, internationally recognized awards, and the petitioner submitted insufficient evidence types.

A taekwondo instructor appealed denial of EB-1A classification, claiming awards, memberships, and leading roles. The AAO affirmed dismissal, finding competitions not nationally recognized, coaching role not qualifying membership, and petitioner failing to meet the three-criteria threshold needed for extraordinary ability.

Artist petitioner sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Director denied, finding petitioner met two of ten criteria but lacked sustained acclaim and top-tier status. AAO summarily dismissed appeal because petitioner failed to identify specific errors in director's decision or address deficiencies in documentary evidence.

Athlete in sports or athletics field sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. Director denied petition finding insufficient evidence of published material and failure to meet three-criterion requirement. On appeal, counsel asserted petitioner meets at least three criteria but provided insufficient substantive arguments. AAO affirmed dismissal.

Construction professional claimed extraordinary ability in international construction economics. AAO upheld denial, finding petitioner failed to meet awards and membership criteria because evidence showed employer company recognition, not individual petitioner achievement or membership.

Cardiology fellow sought EB-1A extraordinary ability in sciences. Director found petitioner met only one of five analyzed criteria and failed final merits determination. On appeal, counsel made only passing references to memberships and judging without substantive arguments. AAO summarily dismissed for failure to identify specific errors.

Self-petitioner sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO upheld the director's determination that the petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim and did not demonstrate achievements setting her significantly above others in her field at national or international level, thus failing to qualify.

Self-represented karate practitioner and coach sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO found petitioner met none of the ten regulatory criteria, rejecting the one-time award claim due to inconsistent documentation and insufficient evidence of the competition's prestige at the time of competition.

A writer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification and, without counsel, appealed the service center denial. The appeal form promised a brief within 30 days, but nothing was filed in about six months. The AAO summarily dismissed the appeal because it identified no specific error of law or fact.

The petitioner, apparently a competitor in a team-based field, sought extraordinary ability classification, relying on awards and on membership in teams and committees. The AAO dismissed the appeal because the award evidence was not legible primary documentation and the team and committee roles did not satisfy the membership requirements.

The petitioner is a physician-scientist in infectious diseases or microbiology who sought extraordinary ability classification. The AAO went directly to the final merits step, since the director had counted the required criteria. It dismissed the appeal because the combined evidence did not show sustained acclaim or a place at the top of the field.

A musician claimed extraordinary ability in EB-1A, presenting evidence of awards and artistic exhibitions. AAO found prizes not nationally or internationally recognized and exhibitions criterion inapplicable to music. Appeal dismissed for failing to meet three regulatory criteria.

A composer in music claimed extraordinary ability through awards, judging, original contributions, and exhibitions. AAO analyzed only awards criterion and found insufficient evidence of national or international recognition. Appeal dismissed for failing to establish three qualifying criteria.

A tabla performer and teacher in Indian classical music sought extraordinary ability classification. AAO found claimed scholarship award lacked documentary evidence of national or international recognition. Appeal dismissed; petitioner failed to establish three required criteria.

A competitive performer sought extraordinary ability classification. AAO held that claimed awards did not satisfy plural requirement and lacked primary documentation; committee memberships did not establish elite status. Appeal dismissed for insufficient regulatory criteria evidence.

Greyhound dog trainer filed EB-1A petition. AAO dismissed appeal for failure to provide substantive arguments or promised brief and evidence within three years, citing conclusory statements insufficient under regulatory requirements.

Netball athlete claimed extraordinary ability through team selections and awards. AAO held petitioner failed to meet the awards criterion and did not submit qualifying evidence under three or more regulatory categories, denying sustained acclaim.

Nephrologist and transplant surgeon claimed extraordinary ability through awards and professional memberships. AAO held awards lacked national or international recognition and memberships did not require outstanding achievement, failing the three-criterion threshold.

A cultural dancer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. She claimed awards, membership, published material, original contributions, exhibitions, and leading role. The AAO affirmed that two criteria were met but found insufficient evidence of major contributions or qualifying exhibitions, and dismissed the appeal because the petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim.