Published AAO appeal decisions

Kickboxer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability in athletics. Petitioner claimed five criteria on appeal. AAO found only judging criterion satisfied. Without meeting at least three criteria, petitioner failed initial evidence requirement. Appeal dismissed.

Table tennis player seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability claimed one-time achievement and three criteria. Met only awards and published material criteria (two total), falling short of three required. No major internationally recognized award found. Appeal dismissed.

Sports manager seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability classification claimed three criteria but met none. Decision found membership did not require outstanding achievements judged by experts, publications lacked evidence of major media status, and business founding lacked demonstrated major field impact. Appeal dismissed.

A powerboat racer sought EB-1A classification as an individual with extraordinary ability. The petitioner claimed awards, membership, and published material criteria. The AAO found the awards criterion met but membership and published material not met. Because fewer than three criteria were satisfied, the AAO dismissed the appeal without reaching the final merits analysis.

Gymnastics coach in China appeals denial. Claimed judging and critical role criteria. AAO sustained appeal, finding two regulatory criteria met and extraordinary ability demonstrated through sustained national acclaim and career at highest competitive level.

Professional golfer appeals denial. Claimed membership and high salary criteria on appeal; two criteria met overall. AAO dismissed, finding membership requires outstanding achievement not demonstrated and salary at developmental level insufficient for top-tier classification.

Canyoneering guide sought extraordinary ability in athletics. Claimed membership and published material criteria but failed to satisfy initial evidentiary requirements. AAO found membership standards did not require outstanding achievements and articles lacked publication in major venues.

Freestyle wrestler sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Met at least three criteria including awards and published material, but failed final merits determination. AAO found evidence did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or place among small percentage at top of field.

Self-petitioner athletic coach sought EB-1A classification in coaching field. AAO found awards, membership, and published material criteria failed because evidence related to swimmer athlete status, not coaching excellence. Petitioner did not meet three-criterion threshold; appeal dismissed.

A competitive runner self-petitioner claimed extraordinary ability through awards, team membership and judging. The AAO sustained appeal finding three criteria met: nationally and internationally recognized medals, national team membership, and judging evidence. Aggregate evidence demonstrated sustained acclaim and placement among small percentage at field top.

A mountain climber sought EB-1A classification based on a first place award in a climbing competition and association membership. The AAO found the award lacked evidence of national or international recognition and membership was registration only, not membership requiring outstanding achievements.

Chess player claimed extraordinary ability through awards, published material, judging, and leading role. AAO found only awards criterion met. Published material lacked national reach, judging and role criteria unsupported. Initial threshold of three criteria not satisfied.

An athlete and coach sought EB-1A classification. The AAO found the awards criterion not met because achievements lacked documentation as nationally or internationally recognized honors. The petitioner did not satisfy at least three criteria. The appeal was dismissed as petitioner failed to establish eligibility.

Fencing instructor and athlete sought EB-1A classification. Claimed awards, judging, and original contributions. AAO held awards must be petitioner's own, not coached athletes'; judging requires evidence of judgment exercised; petitioner failed to meet three-criterion threshold and thus extraordinary ability.

Table tennis player sought EB-1A classification. Claimed awards, membership, published material, and contributions. AAO held petitioner met only one criterion; post-filing ITTF ranking cannot overcome prior deficiencies; appeal dismissed for failure to brief specific legal errors.

A self-petitioning sports management professional sought extraordinary ability classification after an earlier multinational manager petition was denied. The director found no major award and fewer than three criteria met. The AAO summarily dismissed the appeal because the petitioner submitted no brief or evidence and identified no error of law or fact.

A mixed martial arts fighter self-petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner claimed professional fighting itself was a one-time achievement and submitted fight victories and certificates. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding professional status does not constitute a major, internationally recognized award, and awards were not shown as nationally or internationally recognized.

A table tennis player and coach sought EB-1A classification. The AAO held she failed to meet initial evidence requirements, satisfying neither a one-time achievement nor three of ten criteria. She did not demonstrate qualifying awards as player or coach, and aggregate evidence did not support the expertise level required.

An athlete claimed extraordinary ability through awards, memberships, and published material. The AAO upheld the director's denial, finding the petitioner satisfied no criterion fully. Awards did not meet all evidentiary elements; membership was singular not plural; publications lacked proper scope and authorship evidence.

A tennis coach and fitness trainer claimed extraordinary ability. AAO found petitioner failed to present at least three types of qualifying evidence under the ten regulatory criteria. Applying Kazarian framework, without meeting the three-evidence threshold, AAO could not proceed to final merits determination. Petition dismissed.

A kickboxing trainer and coach sought extraordinary ability classification in athletics. Petitioner claimed awards, membership, published material, and judging. AAO found no awards nationally or internationally recognized for excellence in coaching, no evidence memberships based on outstanding achievement, articles not primarily about petitioner, and no reliable evidence of judging participation.

A badminton coach sponsored by an employer claimed extraordinary ability through awards and membership criteria. The AAO upheld denial, finding the single award insufficient under the plural requirement of the regulation and the coaching position inadequate for membership criterion, failing to meet the three-criterion threshold.

Former swimming competitor and coach claimed extraordinary ability. AAO found no sustained national or international acclaim after 1993, no nationally recognized awards, and memberships did not require outstanding achievements judged by experts. Claimed criteria partially abandoned.

A chess player petitioned for extraordinary ability classification under EB-1A. The petitioner claimed to meet four criteria and submitted evidence of awards and a title. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner satisfied only one regulatory criterion (awards) and failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim required for the small percentage at the very top of the field.

A cricket player self-petitioned for EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner claimed awards but failed to document their national or international recognition or provide information about the conferring organizations. The AAO dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner did not establish the required level of acclaim.