Published AAO appeal decisions

Figure skating choreographer and coach sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. She claimed seven criteria including membership, published material, scholarly articles and exhibitions. AAO held she met only judging criterion and failed to meet three-criterion threshold because membership lacked documentation, publications lacked translation compliance and scholarly article was not in qualifying venue.

A photographer and business owner from Brazil claimed extraordinary ability through seven criteria. The AAO found two criteria met: published material and exhibition display. However, the petitioner failed to establish three qualifying criteria and lacks sustained national or international acclaim required for the classification.

Fashion designer sought extraordinary ability classification claiming six criteria including awards, membership, and scholarly articles. AAO found only one criterion met (judging) and upheld dismissal. Petitioner failed to establish three-criterion threshold and lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim required for EB-1A.

Mixed martial arts athlete seeks extraordinary ability classification. Petitioner claimed three criteria but failed to establish any definitively; Director found no major award and denied membership, and AAO affirmed membership finding insufficient. Appeal dismissed; insufficient criteria met and no sustained international acclaim demonstrated.

Folk and classical singer from Armenia claimed eight criteria beyond those Director found met. AAO affirmed Director's finding of two criteria met but found petitioner failed to establish three criteria total required. Final merits analysis concluded no sustained national or international acclaim demonstrating top-tier status.

Bodybuilder claimed extraordinary ability through five criteria. AAO found none met: membership based only on regional contest win; published material in non-qualifying venues; critical role lacking evidence of organizational distinction. No sustained acclaim demonstrated.

Entrepreneur and business executive sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. Met only one of three required criteria (published material about him). AAO rejected awards, membership, judging, and leading role claims. No major recognized award. Appeal dismissed for failure to meet initial evidentiary threshold.

A vocational agriculture teacher sought EB-1A classification. He claimed membership, scholarly articles, and critical role criteria. The AAO found he did not establish major award status or three alternate criteria. His association memberships did not require outstanding achievements, articles were unpublished or not in major media, and teaching work was not a critical role. Appeal dismissed.

A competitive aircraft model pilot sought EB-1A classification. He claimed membership, published material, and one other criterion. The AAO found he did not establish major award status or three alternate criteria, including that his blog posts were not major media and his title did not evidence association membership. The appeal was dismissed.

Self-petitioner, physician specializing in clinical and other medicine, sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Met only two of ten criteria: scholarly articles and judging. Failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or recognition as top practitioner. Record shows accomplished but not extraordinarily able physician.

A fashion model from Australia sought EB-1A classification claiming ten evidentiary criteria. The AAO affirmed the service center's finding that she satisfied only one criterion (display at exhibitions). The record lacked evidence of nationally recognized awards, qualifying association membership, or the sustained national/international acclaim required for extraordinary ability status.

Self-petitioner, business supply chain software specialist, sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. Met only one of three required criteria (published material). AAO rejected membership in professional associations and leading role claims due to insufficient evidence and timing issues. Appeal dismissed.

A pastor sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification through Christian missions work. Although the director found four criteria met, the AAO reversed three findings on review and affirmed only published material. With only one criterion met, the petitioner failed to meet the three-criterion threshold and lacked sustained national or international acclaim.

Entrepreneur with twenty years accounting and finance experience in pharmaceutical industry seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability in business. AAO held only two of ten criteria met; three-criterion threshold not satisfied; no major award or exceptional recognition; appeal dismissed.

Sambo and judo champion sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO affirmed dismissal because petitioner failed to present either a major international award or three qualifying criteria; record did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim requisite for the classification.

An employer sponsored a radiation oncology physician for EB-1A extraordinary ability. The beneficiary met judging and scholarly articles criteria but failed membership and published material criteria. Original contributions not shown to have major significance. Extraordinary ability sustained acclaim was not established. Appeal dismissed.

A tax consultant with a law degree sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. She claimed six criteria but met none. The AAO found her honors and publications did not meet regulatory standards and her achievements, while notable in academia, lacked the sustained national or international acclaim required for extraordinary ability.

An embroiderer seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner claimed eight of ten regulatory criteria. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner satisfied fewer than three criteria and lacked sustained national or international acclaim required for extraordinary ability.

Jewelry maker claims extraordinary ability in arts. Director found two criteria met; petitioner claimed four additional on appeal. AAO dismissed, rejecting membership, published material, original contributions, and scholarly articles. Record does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or position among top field practitioners.

Soccer coach sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO held although petitioner met three initial evidentiary criteria, evidence demonstrated only past national acclaim in Trinidad and Tobago with no recent materials, failing to show sustained national or international acclaim required for extraordinary ability classification.

Aerospace technology specialist in air transportation modeling claiming extraordinary ability. Met scholarly articles and judging criteria but failed membership, original contributions, and leading role criteria. Only two of ten criteria established despite claiming four additional. Appeal dismissed for insufficient evidence of top-tier recognition.

Public relations director sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. She claimed six criteria including awards, membership, and original contributions. AAO held she failed to meet at least three criteria: awards were organizational not individual, and membership evidence lacked required bylaws documentation.

Chief executive officer and solutions architect claimed four criteria including membership, published material, leading role, and high salary. AAO found none met. YPO membership lacked demonstrated outstanding achievement standard. Published materials insufficient in prominence or attribution. Executive experience alone does not establish upper echelon status required.

A radiologist seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification met the threshold evidentiary criteria but failed the final merits determination. The AAO found that while the petitioner demonstrated substantial accomplishments and institutional affiliations, the evidence did not establish sustained national or international acclaim at the very top of nuclear medicine.

A Venezuelan OB/GYN physician claimed extraordinary ability through eight criteria. The AAO found two criteria met: judging and scholarly articles. However, these routine academic activities lack the acclaim requirement, and the petitioner failed to demonstrate sustained national or international recognition or widespread field impact.