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
8 decisions
Outcomes in these results
- Dismissed
- Remanded
- Sustained
- EB-1ACivil and environmental engineeringFeb 2026Dismissed
Structural engineer seeks EB-1A classification. Membership and display criteria abandoned by failure to respond to RFE. Original contributions not established as major significance; sole attribution not demonstrated. SCOPS decision affirmed as reasoned. Petitioner did not establish three of ten criteria required for extraordinary ability classification; appeal dismissed.
0 of 11 criteria metRead → - EB-1ACivil and environmental engineeringJan 2026Dismissed
Transportation architect with master's degree and H-1B work history claimed seven criteria for extraordinary ability. AAO found three criteria met: judging, scholarly articles, and leading roles. On final merits, AAO determined petitioner failed to show sustained national or international acclaim or recognition required for top-tier classification.
3 of 9 criteria metRead → - EB-1ACivil and environmental engineeringMay 2025Dismissed
Environmental engineer claimed six criteria for extraordinary ability. AAO affirmed judging and scholarly articles criteria but rejected membership, published material, and original contributions. No evidence of sustained national or international acclaim or top-tier status required for EB-1A classification.
2 of 7 criteria metRead → - EB-1ACivil and environmental engineeringNov 2024Dismissed
A civil engineer sought extraordinary ability classification, initially claiming seven criteria. The director found two satisfied. The AAO withdrew the published material finding, rejected membership, original contributions and high salary, treated other criteria as waived, and dismissed because fewer than three criteria were met and acclaim was not shown.
1 of 7 criteria metRead → - EB-1ACivil and environmental engineeringOct 2024Dismissed
Self-petitioner water resources engineer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. AAO affirmed denial, finding petitioner met only two of ten criteria (articles and judging) and failed to establish national or international acclaim or standing among top percentage of field despite research contributions.
2 of 6 criteria metRead → - EB-1ACivil and environmental engineeringJun 2023Dismissed
Civil engineer with twenty years experience in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO dismissed appeal finding petitioner satisfied only one of ten evidentiary criteria and failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim required for EB-1A.
1 of 11 criteria metRead → - EB-1ACivil and environmental engineering2019Dismissed
Environmental engineer with thirty years experience claimed extraordinary ability. Submitted partially translated documents and awards without establishing national or international recognition. Failed to meet minimum three criteria due to insufficient documentary support.
0 of 3 criteria metRead → - EB-1ACivil and environmental engineering2019Dismissed
A civil engineer seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability claimed seven criteria. The AAO found awards, membership, and published material unmet. Because the petitioner failed to meet the required three initial criteria, final merits analysis was unnecessary, though the record in aggregate did not show the required acclaim.
0 of 8 criteria metRead →
