Published AAO appeal decisions

The petitioner is a music producer and arranger who claimed to meet seven of the ten extraordinary ability criteria and also sought to rely on comparable evidence. The AAO dismissed the appeal, holding that comparable evidence was unavailable for this occupation and that the awards evidence did not show the petitioner personally received qualifying prizes.

Performing arts professional claimed extraordinary ability. AAO upheld director's denial, finding only one of multiple claimed criteria met: judging. Awards and published material claims failed under plain language requirements. Burden not met to establish extraordinary ability.

A singer-actress did not establish extraordinary ability. Published material lacked proper documentation, translations, and evidence of major media publication. Original contributions were unsupported. Petitioner failed to meet three regulatory criteria and did not demonstrate top-tier expertise.

A playwright and theatre artist, self-represented, sought EB-1A classification. The AAO reviewed claimed criteria including awards, membership, published material, and contributions, finding each unmet because of a missing award, non-selective membership, an undated article, and letters lacking major significance. Other claims were abandoned or unclear. The appeal was dismissed.

An actor sought extraordinary ability classification as a self-petitioner. After the director denied the petition, counsel appealed with only a general assertion of eligibility and never filed the promised brief or evidence. The AAO summarily dismissed the appeal because it identified no specific error of law or fact.

Musician and composer. Claimed publications, judging, original contributions, and scholarly articles. AAO found judging criterion met but original contributions unsupported by letter quality and scholarly articles deficient due to single submission. Final merits assessment found insufficient evidence of sustained acclaim or top-tier status. Appeal dismissed.

An entertainer petitioner claimed extraordinary ability through awards, published material, and other criteria. The AAO found only high salary criterion met. Because at least three criteria must be satisfied, and only one was established, the petition failed to meet basic eligibility requirements. Appeal dismissed.

A music producer claimed extraordinary ability based on Latin Grammy nomination and collaboration with a Latin Grammy winner. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the nomination insufficient as a major award, web articles not qualifying published material, and the collaboration not demonstrating original contributions of major significance.

A musician petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO upheld the director's denial, finding the petitioner failed to meet at least three regulatory criteria and lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim necessary for the highest classification tier.

Employer-sponsored petition for performing artist seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability. Petitioner met only one criterion. The AAO affirmed denial, finding insufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim and failure to meet the threshold of three evidentiary categories required for final merits determination.

A film director and writer sought extraordinary ability classification, with counsel never clearly tying evidence to specific criteria. The AAO found counsel failed to identify which criteria applied, treated a director's misstatement of field as harmless, and dismissed the appeal because the petitioner did not carry the burden of proof.

Actress sought extraordinary ability classification. Director found only one criterion met; AAO withdrew that finding and found published material and awards criteria not met, and exhibitions criterion inapplicable to performing artist. Overall evidence insufficient to show petitioner among small percentage at field top.

Contemporary classical music composer petitioner claimed four criteria. AAO found awards lack proper foreign language translations and supporting evidence of competitive recognition. Remaining three criteria not analyzed. Appeal dismissed.

A musician appealed denial of extraordinary ability classification. The AAO dismissed the appeal summarily because the petitioner failed to identify specific errors in the director's decision and did not submit a promised brief with additional evidence within one year.

An actor claimed extraordinary ability under EB-1A, citing a leading role on a Disney Channel series and letters of recommendation. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner failed to meet three criteria because the television role was singular and undocumented in significance, and letters lacked objective evidence of contributions to the field.

A scientific filmmaker and creator of a science film festival sought EB-1A classification. Petitioner claimed published material, judging, original contributions, and scholarly articles. AAO found all claims failed to meet plain language regulatory requirements. No criteria met; appeal dismissed.

A film artist self-petitioner met the lesser nationally recognized prizes criterion but failed the membership criterion by claiming eligibility based on a single association without documentary support for criterion elements. With only one criterion satisfied, the AAO dismissed the appeal for insufficient evidence of extraordinary ability.

Motion picture or television industry professional petitioner claimed published material and display criteria under EB-1A. AAO upheld director's denial, finding petitioner failed to meet the plain language requirements of the published material criterion and did not satisfy the threshold of three qualifying criteria types. Appeal dismissed.

Perch pole balancing circus performer petitioner sought extraordinary ability classification. AAO found single award insufficient under plural requirement and rejected membership criterion. Petition dismissed because petitioner failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim and placement among top performers in field.

Actress petitioner claimed extraordinary ability in performing arts, relying on awards and memberships. AAO found petitioner established evidence of only one award, failing the requirement for multiple nationally or internationally recognized prizes, and did not demonstrate sustained acclaim at the top of her field.

A ballet dancer sought EB-1A classification, claiming a one-time achievement through a competition gold medal and at least three regulatory criteria. The AAO held the medal was not a major, internationally recognized award and the record did not show sustained acclaim or top-of-field standing, so it dismissed the appeal.

The petitioner is a concert pianist who sought extraordinary ability classification in the arts. He relied on competition prizes and published articles, and the AAO found neither satisfied its criterion. The appeal was dismissed because the record did not show sustained acclaim or standing at the very top of the field.

Television drama director sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Although petitioner met one criterion by receiving a nationally recognized award, counsel could not establish three criteria. AAO found evidence insufficient to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim needed for the small percentage at the very top of the field.

Songwriter and musician sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Counsel asserted all ten regulatory criteria but made frivolous claims. AAO found record did not establish that petitioner distinguished himself to achieve sustained national or international acclaim or placement in small percentage at very top of field.

A musician, guitarist, songwriter and producer filed for EB-1A extraordinary ability. Petitioner submitted album sales plaques but failed to establish they were primarily attributable to his work or constituted nationally recognized awards. The AAO found achievements not persuasively placed him significantly above almost all others in music field.