Published AAO appeal decisions

Petitioner claimed three criteria: awards, membership, and published material. AAO found none met the plain language requirements: scholarship not recognized prize, association membership not based on outstanding achievement, published material missing required attribution. Appeal dismissed.

Table tennis coach claimed extraordinary ability. Petitioner offered evidence of students' achievements and coaching recognition. AAO held petitioner did not meet awards criterion as student success does not constitute petitioner's receipt of prizes, and youth rankings insufficient; other criteria not reached.

Restaurant worker claimed extraordinary ability through employer accolades and other criteria. AAO held that restaurant rankings and awards do not satisfy the awards criterion, which requires personal documentation of excellence. Petitioner failed to meet three-criterion requirement. Appeal dismissed.

A swimming coach claimed extraordinary ability based on prior athletic accomplishments and coaching experience. The AAO held that petitioner's own competitive awards could not satisfy criteria for coaching, student awards were not documented, and petitioner failed to meet the requisite three evidentiary categories under Kazarian.

A fencing coach claimed extraordinary ability based on competitive fencing achievements and coaching students. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding no nationally recognized coaching awards, no qualifying published material about the petitioner, and insufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim in coaching.

A self-represented petitioner claimed extraordinary ability and believed meeting criteria two, four, five, six, and eight. The AAO dismissed the appeal after finding the petitioner submitted knowingly false documents, including a false reference letter and misattributed articles, constituting willful misrepresentation of material facts.

A music producer claimed extraordinary ability based on Latin Grammy nomination and collaboration with a Latin Grammy winner. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the nomination insufficient as a major award, web articles not qualifying published material, and the collaboration not demonstrating original contributions of major significance.

A self-petitioner claimed extraordinary ability under EB-1A, challenging director's denial of multiple criteria. The AAO found petitioner met only the judging criterion but failed to establish the three-criterion threshold required under the Kazarian two-part test for EB-1A eligibility.

A nephrologist and kidney transplant specialist claimed extraordinary ability based on awards, association memberships, and published material. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding no nationally or internationally recognized awards, memberships not requiring outstanding achievements, and publications not meeting the criterion of material about the petitioner.

A musician petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO upheld the director's denial, finding the petitioner failed to meet at least three regulatory criteria and lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim necessary for the highest classification tier.

Self-petitioner biochemist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO found petitioner did not submit sufficient evidence under at least three evidentiary criteria required by regulation; applied two-part Kazarian framework and dismissed appeal.

Nonprofit director petitioner sought extraordinary ability classification for beneficiary. Beneficiary's acclaim in nonprofit direction and association with musical figures was claimed but not adequately documented under regulatory criteria. AAO upheld director's denial because petitioner failed to establish three qualifying evidentiary categories.

Musician-petitioner claimed four evidentiary criteria for extraordinary ability. The AAO found petitioner did not meet awards (World Youth Choir participation insufficient), membership (employment-based only), or original contributions (institutional level only). Failure to submit three qualifying categories and lack of sustained national or international acclaim led to dismissal.

Self-petitioner claimed extraordinary ability and cited selection as one of Directors of Creation as major achievement. The AAO found this selection did not constitute a major, internationally recognized award and petitioner failed to meet three required evidentiary criteria under awards, published material, and original contributions. Appeal dismissed.

Self-petitioner claimed three criteria for extraordinary ability in life sciences research. AAO found petitioner failed to meet awards criterion, published material criterion (articles not about petitioner's work), and original contributions criterion (lacking major significance). Overall, petitioner did not establish sustained acclaim or top-tier status in field.

Self-petitioner claimed extraordinary ability as artist. AAO affirmed director's denial finding insufficient evidence of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards. Petitioner listed regional awards lacking required national or international recognition; translations deficient.

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.

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.

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.