Published AAO appeal decisions

A mountaineer initially approved for EB-1A had approval revoked after notice of intent. The AAO found only the leading role criterion met; awards, membership, and published material claims failed. The petition did not meet the three-criterion threshold. Final merits analysis confirmed the petitioner lacks the required sustained acclaim.

Manufacturing company president and founder seeking extraordinary ability classification. Met one criterion: leading or critical role based on distinguished company reputation. Failed to meet original contributions and high salary criteria despite additional appeal evidence. AAO dismissed, finding only one criterion met, below three required, and no sustained national acclaim.

Industrial engineer employed as principal engineer sought EB-1A classification. Director found two criteria met (scholarly articles and high salary). Petitioner claimed third criterion regarding critical role; AAO rejected it. Three-criterion threshold not met; final merits not required.

A violinist met four criteria: awards for first place in international competition, published material in economic media about her win, judging, and leading role with multiple major orchestras. The AAO sustained, finding her international competition success, media coverage, and performances with distinguished orchestras demonstrate sustained acclaim and top-tier status.

Spa design and wellness professional sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO dismissed appeal because petitioner met only two criteria (judging, leading role), falling short of three-criterion requirement, and lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim or top-tier field status.

Multilingual voice-over artist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. Met awards criterion only. Failed published material, critical role, and high salary criteria. Insufficient evidence of three required criteria or sustained acclaim. Appeal dismissed.

A jiu-jitsu coach claims extraordinary ability based on six criteria. The decision finds insufficient evidence for membership, published material, original contributions, leading role, and high salary. Comparable evidence arguments rejected. With no criteria met, extraordinary ability is not established.

A molecular diagnostics company employed a scientist claiming extraordinary ability in sciences. Director found four criteria met, but AAO reversed original contributions and high salary findings. With only two criteria solidly met and no showing of sustained national acclaim at field's top, appeal dismissed.

An attorney specializing in claims management in the United Kingdom sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. He claimed three criteria: judging, leading role, and published material. The AAO sustained, finding all three criteria met and sustained international acclaim establishing him among the very top in his field.

Handball player seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability in athletics. Met only awards criterion. AAO dismissed appeal, finding petitioner failed to satisfy three criteria minimum: judging role unsupported by documentary evidence, junior team and reserve membership lacked expert judgment requirement, published material from non-major publication, and team captain role insufficient for sustained acclaim.

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.

A chemical engineering research engineer sought EB-1A classification. AAO affirmed the director's finding that he met only two criteria: judging and scholarly articles. Original contributions were not shown to be major significance beyond his employer. Leading role criterion failed because criticality was limited to research group. Appeal dismissed.

Record label petitions for creative director as EB-1A extraordinary ability in arts. Beneficiary met two criteria (leading role, high salary) but petition failed because petitioner could not demonstrate three minimum criteria: awards were not nationally recognized, membership lacked evidence of outstanding achievement requirements, and published material lacked proper documentation.

Architect sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Director found one criterion met; petitioner on appeal claimed three additional criteria. AAO found petitioner met none of the four criteria claimed and failed to establish three of ten required criteria. Appeal dismissed.

Hookah lounge manager self-petitioner claimed extraordinary ability in business. AAO found petitioner failed to meet any of the three required initial criteria: awards lacked national or international recognition, no qualifying association memberships were demonstrated, and his managerial role did not meet the distinguished reputation and critical impact standard.

Ballet dancer and instructor petitioned by ballet company. Claimed four criteria: exhibitions, awards, published material, and leading/critical role. AAO found only exhibitions met, rejecting awards for lack of recognition evidence, published material for insufficient focus and source quality, and critical role for failure to show responsibility for organizational success.

A figure skater self-petitioner claimed four EB-1A criteria. The AAO found only exhibitions met. Published material lacked required documentation; leading/critical role and high salary failed to meet plain language requirements. With fewer than three criteria met, no final merits analysis was conducted; appeal dismissed.

A competitive swimmer self-petitioner claimed four EB-1A criteria. The AAO found only membership met through national team and Olympic representation. Awards, published material, and leading/critical role failed requirements. With one criterion met instead of three, the appeal was dismissed without final merits analysis.

A traditional Chinese medicine physician sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO found the petitioner satisfied only two criteria: judging and scholarly articles. The petitioner claimed three additional criteria but failed to demonstrate they were met. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner did not meet the required threshold of at least three criteria.

Neonatologist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Met only two initial criteria: scholarly articles and leading role. AAO dismissed appeal, finding petitioner failed to meet three-criterion threshold and aggregate record did not demonstrate sustained national acclaim or top-tier expertise.

An ultramarathon runner sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. He claimed five criteria beyond the one awarded criterion. The AAO found only awards met; membership lacked outstanding achievement requirement, published material involved non-major sources, original contributions lacked field significance, exhibitions criterion inapplicable, and leading role unestablished. Appeal dismissed.

A medical technology researcher sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Director found two criteria met; petitioner claimed two more. AAO found judging and scholarly articles met but original contributions lacked significance and leading role unproven. Only three criteria met but final merits analysis concluded no extraordinary ability. Appeal dismissed.

Technological entrepreneur seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability classification in business. Claimed three criteria including published material, critical role, and high salary. AAO affirmed published material was met but rejected critical role and high salary claims as lacking substantiation. Appeal dismissed because petitioner failed to satisfy three required initial criteria.

Irish dance teacher seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Meets judging and leading/critical role criteria but only two of ten required; fails to establish original contributions, awards, membership, published material, or high salary. Lacks evidence of sustained acclaim. Appeal dismissed.

Actress seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Director found four criteria met but AAO withdraws published material and leading/critical role findings, leaving only judging and exhibitions; insufficient to establish sustained national acclaim or top-tier status. Appeal dismissed.