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
9 decisions
Outcomes in these results
- Dismissed
- Remanded
- Sustained
- EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsJan 2026Dismissed
Radio station and social media entrepreneur sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Petitioner claimed eight criteria; service center found three met but concluded lack of sustained national or international acclaim and top-tier recognition. AAO affirmed dismissal, finding awards lacked significance and overall evidence insufficient for extraordinary ability standard.
3 of 9 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsJul 2025Dismissed
Content developer and influencer from Brazil sought extraordinary ability classification. Claimed six criteria. Decision found only one criterion met and withdrew SCOPS finding on exhibitions. Appeal dismissed because petitioner failed to satisfy three required criteria.
1 of 8 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsApr 2025Dismissed
Marketing and communications strategist seeking EB-1A for extraordinary ability. Claimed published material, scholarly articles, and exhibitions criteria. AAO found all three criteria unmet: publications lacked proper documentation and publication venue verification; scholarly articles insufficient under professional publication requirement; panel participation did not constitute artistic display.
0 of 4 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsApr 2025Dismissed
Sports journalist claimed three EB-1A criteria. AAO found broadcast journalism evidence comparable to artistic exhibitions criterion. Leading role claim failed because award lacked national or international recognition. Only two criteria met; three required, so appeal dismissed without final merits determination.
1 of 5 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsFeb 2022Dismissed
A producer and journalist from Venezuela seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability claimed six criteria. The AAO affirmed the Director's finding that she met two (judging, artistic display) but rejected four others (awards, membership, published material, leading role) and concluded her work in local media did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim required for the top tier.
2 of 7 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsMay 2021Dismissed
A video journalist sought extraordinary ability classification on his own behalf, claiming several evidentiary criteria. The AAO agreed that the awards and judging criteria were met but found membership, published material, exhibitions and leading role unmet. Overall, the evidence did not show sustained acclaim, so the appeal was dismissed.
2 of 7 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsApr 2021Dismissed
Sports journalist employed at major television networks initially claimed seven criteria. AAO found published material and high salary met but rejected original contributions, display, and critical role claims. Decision sustained dismissal based on lack of sustained national or international acclaim required for extraordinary ability.
2 of 10 criteria metRead → - EB-1AMarketing, media, communicationsMar 2021Dismissed
A journalist specializing in railway coverage appealed EB-1A denial. Although Director found six criteria met, AAO withdrew four findings: the award lacked national recognition, published materials were about swimming not journalism, judging role was in unrelated field, and book launch was commercial not artistic. Final merits test failed.
0 of 5 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 →
