AAO Decisions Explorer · Free
Published AAO appeal decisions
Search the decisions the Administrative Appeals Office has published, narrow them by visa, criterion, field and year, and read our summary of each one with a link to the official PDF.

Decisions in the library
6,586
6,586 classified
Visa types
3
Years covered
2005-2026
Latest decision
Aug 31, 2026
Filters
39 decisions
Outcomes in these results
- Dismissed
- Remanded
- Sustained
- EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2020Dismissed
Senior copywriter appeals denial of EB-1A petition. Claimed major award and four evidentiary criteria. AAO found no major internationally recognized award and only two criteria met; three required. Dismissing appeal because petitioner failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim at the top of field.
1 of 9 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2019Dismissed
Marketing and media relations consultant claims extraordinary ability in business. Meets only two of ten criteria. AAO finds awards belonged to employer not her, published material not about her, contributions limited to company impact, and displays not artistic exhibitions. Lacks sustained national acclaim; appeal dismissed.
0 of 5 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2019Dismissed
A journalist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability, claiming four criteria. Service center found only original contributions met; AAO reversed all findings. Awards lacked national recognition, published material articles were not about petitioner, original contributions lacked specificity about field impact though some articles were cited in government reports. Appeal dismissed.
0 of 4 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2019Dismissed
A journalist claimed extraordinary ability through five criteria, meeting at least three via awards, publications, judging, and a leadership role. The AAO found the evidentiary criteria satisfied but dismissed the appeal because the totality of evidence, particularly the awards, demonstrated only local and regional recognition rather than the sustained national or international acclaim required.
5 of 6 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2017Dismissed
Journalist petitioner claimed extraordinary ability through awards and published material. Service center denied for lack of sustained acclaim and small percentage status. AAO dismissed appeal as abandoned after petitioner failed to respond to notice, and found willful misrepresentation through fabricated documentation.
0 of 3 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2016Dismissed
A satellite television news producer sought extraordinary ability classification, claiming awards, published material, judging, scholarly articles, a leading role and contributions. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the awards, media coverage, judging and contribution evidence insufficient and the aggregate record short of the required expertise. The decision's treatment of the scholarly articles and leading role criteria is internally inconsistent.
1 of 7 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2015Dismissed
A fashion journalist sought extraordinary ability classification, claiming at least three regulatory criteria. The appeals office dismissed the appeal because inconsistencies about the awards and published articles were not resolved by independent evidence, leaving the remaining documents unreliable. It also made a finding of willful material misrepresentation based on fabricated documentation.
0 of 2 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2015Dismissed
The petitioner is a television news anchor and director who sought extraordinary ability classification based on a major award and the regulatory criteria. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the claimed award was not shown to be a major internationally recognized prize, and the lesser awards were not shown received by him or recognized beyond the issuer.
0 of 2 criteria metRead → - O-1AMarketing, media, communications2014Dismissed
A copywriter and creative supervisor sought O-1A classification; petitioner abandoned two criteria and failed to meet at least three of the remaining criteria. AAO affirmed dismissal, finding beneficiary did not qualify and comparable evidence was not applicable.
0 of 6 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2011Dismissed
A marketing and advertising vice president sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner claimed at least three criteria but the decision analyzed only the awards criterion, finding no documented receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes. The petition was dismissed because evidence did not demonstrate extraordinary ability.
0 of 2 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2010Dismissed
Journalist claiming extraordinary ability in journalism. Submitted evidence of taekwondo association certificate and union membership. AAO found neither award qualified as nationally or internationally recognized in journalism field, and union membership lacked requirement of outstanding achievement. Appeal dismissed.
0 of 2 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2005Dismissed
Self-petitioner in marketing and communications claimed extraordinary ability through awards, professional memberships, published materials, and scholarly articles. AAO found the APEX Award lacked national recognition, memberships were unverified with unclear criteria, published materials were dated and scattered, and a single scholarly article over career insufficient. Appeal dismissed.
0 of 5 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2005Dismissed
Communications professional sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Claimed awards, professional membership, and published material criteria. AAO found APEX Award not nationally recognized, no evidence of membership requirements, and only one article published over career. Appeal dismissed for failure to establish top-level acclaim.
0 of 4 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communications2005Dismissed
TV and film development consultant claimed extraordinary ability. The AAO found she met two of three needed criteria but evidence of sustained acclaim was largely pre-1996, lacking recency, and insufficient to show she ranked among the very top in her field.
2 of 7 criteria metRead →
