Published AAO appeal decisions

A musician and trumpet player sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Petitioner claimed five evidentiary criteria; AAO found two met (awards, exhibitions) and three not met (published material, membership, leading role). AAO concluded petitioner failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the very top of the field, dismissing the appeal.

A singer self-petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability, claiming five criteria. The AAO dismissed, finding he met none: awards lacked national recognition, membership not established, published material insufficient and post-dated filing, and judging and contributions claims waived. Overall evidence insufficient for sustained national acclaim.

An actor sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. She met four evidentiary criteria but the AAO agreed with the director that the record does not establish sustained national or international acclaim or that she ranks among the top small percentage of actors in her field. Appeal dismissed.

Restaurant petitioned for O-1A classification for executive chef of extraordinary ability. AAO dismissed appeal because beneficiary failed to demonstrate nomination for significant awards or at least three of six regulatory criteria; evidence of participation in distinguished productions and published recognition was insufficient.

A visual artist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification claiming six criteria. The AAO found two criteria met (published material and display of work) but this falls short of the three minimum required. The remaining claimed criteria were either rejected or abandoned, and the overall record did not demonstrate sustained national acclaim or placement among the very top of the field.

CEO of beverage company manufacturing energy drinks claimed extraordinary ability status. AAO held petitioner satisfied only one of ten required evidentiary criteria (published materials) but failed to establish three minimum; insufficient evidence of national or international acclaim or recognition in field.

A senior director of product management met three of ten EB-1A criteria (judging, scholarly articles, leading role). However, the AAO upheld dismissal on final merits, holding the record demonstrates some field recognition but fails to show sustained national or international acclaim required for extraordinary ability at the very top.

Fashion and lifestyle blogger seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Claimed eight criteria beyond leading role already conceded. AAO affirmed director's findings that awards lacked field recognition, memberships did not qualify, published material source was not major media, and judging post-dated filing. Appeal dismissed for failing three-criterion threshold.

A physician in diagnostic radiology residency seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding only two criteria met and concluding the beneficiary lacks the sustained national or international acclaim required for the small percentage at the very top of the field.

Paintless dent repair specialist in automotive industry seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO dismissed, finding petitioner met only two criteria (published material, judging) but failed to meet three required criteria and lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim at the top of the field.

A furniture designer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. He claimed three criteria: awards, published material, and exhibitions. The AAO found he met awards and exhibitions criteria but failed published material because he provided no objective evidence establishing that articles were published in major media or professional trade publications.

Fitness trainer and yoga instructor sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Claimed six criteria: membership, published materials, judging, original contributions, scholarly articles, and high salary. AAO found membership criterion unmet due to insufficient evidence of outstanding achievement requirements; published materials not in major outlets; and scholarly article written for general public, not learned audience. Overall record lacks sustained acclaim required.

Chinese stage actor with thirty years experience and director role sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO affirmed denial, finding petitioner met initial evidentiary criteria but lacked evidence of sustained acclaim or placement among the small percentage at the very top of the field.

Artist manager who is founder and CEO of an organization seeks EB-1A classification. He claimed to meet three evidentiary criteria. The AAO found he met published material and leading role criteria but not high salary. Because he did not meet the initial requirement of three criteria, final merits analysis showed he lacks sustained national or international acclaim required for extraordinary ability.

Voice actor seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Claimed four evidentiary criteria including published material and commercial success. AAO found criteria for published material and commercial success unmet and did not reach two additional criteria because petitioner failed to establish three required criteria. Appeal dismissed.

A production designer and student sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. She claimed six evidentiary criteria but satisfied only one. The AAO dismissed her appeal, finding she failed to establish at least three criteria: the award was not hers and not nationally recognized, and published material concerned her employer, not her work.

Model sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. AAO found petitioner met display and judging criteria but failed to satisfy published material and high salary criteria. Record lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim required for classification among small percentage at top of field.

A retired professional soccer player seeks EB-1A classification. He satisfied four initial evidentiary criteria. However, the AAO affirmed the director's final merits finding that his career lacked sustained national or international acclaim, with media coverage concentrated in 2011-2015 rather than throughout his career.

A dance instructor seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification claimed four criteria. The Director found only judging satisfied. On appeal, the petitioner could not establish three of ten required criteria. The AAO dismissed, holding that the record lacks evidence of sustained national or international acclaim and does not demonstrate membership in the top small percentage of the field.

Bioinformatics researcher with physics PhD and postdoctoral experience seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability. AAO held petitioner met only one of three required criteria (scholarly articles) and failed to establish major award, so extraordinary ability not demonstrated.

A television producer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO dismissed because the petitioner satisfied fewer than three of the required ten regulatory criteria. She failed to establish a major award, proper professional association membership, contemporaneous published material about her, and judging participation that existed at the time of filing.

Design and marketing executive specializing in aircraft livery seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Petitioner claimed five criteria beyond major award; AAO found two met by director, rejected membership and published material on examination of association standards and publication circulation. Appeal dismissed for failure to meet initial three-criterion threshold and lack of sustained international acclaim.

Postdoctoral research associate in immunology/pathology met three initial EB-1A criteria: judging, scholarly articles, and published material. AAO dismissed appeal holding peer review, publication, and citations are routine for researchers and do not demonstrate sustained national/international acclaim or top-of-field status required.

A performing artist (actor, producer, theater and film) with fifteen years experience met four evidentiary criteria for EB-1A extraordinary ability. The AAO agreed she satisfied initial evidence requirements but dismissed the appeal, finding the record lacks evidence of sustained national or international acclaim required to demonstrate she is among the very few at the top of her field.

A computer scientist in AI/ML sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner met three initial evidentiary criteria (judging, scholarly articles, leading role) but failed the final merits determination. The record did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement at the very top of the field.