Published AAO appeal decisions

Business professional in news reporting claimed extraordinary ability based on awards and original business contributions. AAO found press awards not internationally recognized and subscription service innovation did not demonstrate major significance or multiple contributions required by regulation.

Restaurant worker claimed extraordinary ability through employer accolades and other criteria. AAO held that restaurant rankings and awards do not satisfy the awards criterion, which requires personal documentation of excellence. Petitioner failed to meet three-criterion requirement. Appeal dismissed.

Self-petitioner claimed extraordinary ability in international travel logistics and management. AAO upheld denial finding petitioner did not satisfy membership criterion (employment is not association membership), leading critical role criterion (required plural organizations with distinguished reputation), or overall extraordinary ability standard.

Construction professional claimed extraordinary ability in international construction economics. AAO upheld denial, finding petitioner failed to meet awards and membership criteria because evidence showed employer company recognition, not individual petitioner achievement or membership.

A business professional's beneficiary sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The director denied for lack of sustained acclaim. The AAO found the petitioner failed to show three qualifying criteria: one award issue was abandoned on appeal and one significant contribution did not satisfy the plural wording. The appeal was dismissed.

Professional claiming extraordinary ability through membership in associations, published material, and leading role criteria. AAO found rotary club involvement does not meet membership requirement and counsel abandoned other claims. Dismissed for failure to satisfy three criteria.

Self-petitioner sought extraordinary ability in business for beneficiary but failed to demonstrate major award or three regulatory criteria. Appeal statement merely asserted documents prove eligibility without identifying specific director errors or substantively addressing evidence. Appeal dismissed.

An employer-sponsored beneficiary for a vice president position sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO found counsel failed to specify which documentary evidence related to claimed criteria, and the beneficiary's professional certification and education alone did not demonstrate he met the required three criteria or achieved sustained national or international acclaim.

Real estate company petitioned for beneficiary as extraordinary ability alien in business. AAO summarily dismissed appeal for failure to identify specific director errors or provide promised brief and evidence within eighteen months.

Self-petitioner seeks EB-1A as financial manager in business. Met fewer than three regulatory criteria and lacked sustained national or international acclaim. AAO found evidence shows talent but does not demonstrate exceptional achievement setting petitioner significantly above others.

Urban developer sought EB-1A classification. Claimed eligibility under awards criterion, arguing event venue selection constituted national acclaim award. AAO rejected argument, holding awards must be personally received by alien not derived from organizational affiliation, and found evidence insufficient for sustained national or international acclaim.

Business professional's petition for extraordinary ability lacked extensive documentation of sustained acclaim. Beneficiary claimed to meet at least three regulatory criteria but petitioner failed to establish major award or comparable evidence of highest tier recognition.

A business software developer claimed extraordinary ability under EB-1A, arguing he met at least three criteria. The AAO found his awards lacked evidence of international recognition, his original contributions were unsupported by objective evidence, and his overall achievements did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim required for the classification.

Project manager petitioner claimed extraordinary ability based on professional certifications and program completion. AAO found petitioner failed to establish membership in qualifying associations and did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or extraordinary achievement in the field.

A business and education professional sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner claimed membership in a professional association and submitted evidence on one criterion. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner did not establish membership requirement or that evidence demonstrated exceptional national or international acclaim necessary for the category.

A business person sought EB-1A classification submitting evidence of awards, Rotary Club membership, and publication contributions. The AAO rejected each criterion: missing documentation, undemonstrated membership requirements, and unqualifying publication evidence. Final merits assessment found insufficient sustained acclaim.

Economic and political consultant claiming extraordinary ability under EB-1A. Petitioner submitted evidence of awards and association memberships but failed to establish they met regulatory criteria. Awards were not nationally or internationally recognized; memberships lacked evidence of outstanding achievement requirements. AAO dismissed appeal for insufficient extraordinary ability.

A senior vice president seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner claimed eligibility under multiple criteria. The AAO found the beneficiary failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim or demonstrate achievements setting him significantly above almost all others in his field at national or international level.

Chairman of corporation claimed extraordinary ability in business and argued criteria more difficult for business executives. AAO found membership in professional association did not require outstanding achievement as essential condition and evidence did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim. Appeal dismissed.

Self-petitioner in business sought extraordinary ability classification. The AAO summarily dismissed the appeal because the petitioner failed to identify any erroneous conclusions of law or fact, as required by regulation, after more than ten months without submitting promised documentation.

A music manager sought EB-1A classification claiming to meet three criteria. The AAO corrected the director's field characterization but found awards, membership, and leading role criteria unmet. Evidence demonstrated talent but not sustained acclaim placing the petitioner among the very top.

Business professional sought EB-1A classification. Met published material criterion through professional articles discussing achievements. Failed to meet awards and leading role criteria. Overall record does not demonstrate achievements placing petitioner significantly above others at national or international level.

An airport operations professional sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. He claimed awards, membership, and published material criteria through employer awards, industry association membership, and aviation media publications. The AAO found all criteria unsatisfied due to insufficient evidence of national or international recognition and achievement at the very top level.

A businessman in concrete technology claimed extraordinary ability through family honors, association membership, and published material. The AAO found family honors do not apply to petitioner, membership criteria unmet, articles insufficient, and aggregate evidence insufficient to establish top-level sustained acclaim.

A journalist and business professional in Nepal petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability in business. The AAO found that a single national award from 1991 and general documentation of journalistic influence were insufficient to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among the very best in the field.