Published AAO appeal decisions

Table tennis player sought extraordinary ability classification in athletics. Met only one criterion and failed to establish three minimum criteria required. Record lacked sufficient documentary evidence of national or international recognition, original contributions, or leadership role.

A Venezuelan musician sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. The AAO found two criteria met but rejected the appeals on awards and published material claims, finding insufficient evidence of national or international recognition. The decision found only two criteria satisfied and declined final merits review.

A filmmaker and film producer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. He claimed to meet three criteria: published material, original contributions, and exhibitions. The AAO found published material and exhibitions met but rejected original contributions as lacking demonstration of major significance. The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to establish the required sustained national or international acclaim.

A professional bridge player sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. He claimed three criteria: awards, judging, and published material. The AAO found awards met but reversed the Director on judging and rejected published material as not meeting the regulatory standard. With only one criterion met, the appeal was dismissed.

A disc jockey and music producer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO found he met two of ten criteria: membership and judging. Awards lacked national recognition, original contributions showed no major field impact, and leadership roles were insufficiently documented. Appeal dismissed; petitioner failed to meet three-criterion minimum.

Dance coach and choreographer met published material, judging, exhibitions, and leading role criteria. However, AAO found insufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim or placement among top choreographers despite successful local dance school. Appeal dismissed.

High fashion photographer sought EB-1A classification for extraordinary ability in arts. Petitioner claimed seven criteria but AAO analyzed only membership and published material, finding neither met. Decision concluded petitioner failed three-criterion threshold without reaching remaining claimed criteria.

Technology entrepreneur claimed extraordinary ability in business. Director found two criteria met; petitioner claimed three on appeal. AAO affirmed two criteria met (leading role, high salary) but rejected published material for translation deficiencies and original contributions for lack of major field impact. Appeal dismissed for insufficient criteria.

A weightlifter claiming extraordinary ability in athletics satisfied only the awards criterion. The AAO rejected membership, judging, published material, and original contributions claims, finding the petitioner met only two of three required criteria and lacked the sustained international acclaim needed.

A badminton player met the awards and published material criteria but failed to satisfy a third required criterion. The high salary and commercial success arguments were rejected. The AAO found insufficient evidence of national or international acclaim at the top level required for EB-1A.

Doctoral researcher in biomedical sciences claiming extraordinary ability. Director found two criteria met: judging and scholarly articles. Petitioner appealed claiming original contributions of major significance. AAO dismissed, finding prospective impact and limited citations insufficient, and overall record lacks evidence of sustained national acclaim or top-tier status.

Data scientist employed by software company for agricultural analytics sought EB-1A classification. Petitioner claimed seven criteria and argued three were met. AAO found three criteria satisfied but determined evidence does not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or small percentage status required for extraordinary ability.

Neuroscientist researcher self-petitioner sought EB-1A classification. Claimed seven criteria; AAO found only two met (judging and scholarly articles). Without three criteria threshold met, final merits not fully addressed. AAO concluded aggregate evidence does not demonstrate required expertise and acclaim.

Fashion designer and photographer sought extraordinary ability classification. Claimed six criteria met. AAO found only two met (exhibitions and critical role), insufficient for threshold. Final merits not addressed as initial evidence requirement failed. Appeal dismissed.

Athlete and coach claimed extraordinary ability in athletics and major award status. Despite evaluating evidence as both athlete and coach, AAO found only one criterion met (Olympic team membership), below three-criterion threshold. No sustained national or international acclaim demonstrated. Appeal dismissed.

A geomorphologist self-petitioned for extraordinary ability classification, and the service center denied the petition. On appeal, the petitioner promised a brief or further evidence but submitted nothing and identified no specific legal or factual error, so the appeal was summarily dismissed without any criterion being analyzed.

An audiologist claimed extraordinary ability through five evidentiary criteria. The AAO found only scholarly articles criterion met. Awards, membership, published material about petitioner, and artistic exhibition criteria were rejected. Without three criteria met, final merits review was unnecessary. Appeal dismissed.

A judo wrestler claims extraordinary ability. She demonstrated receipt of medals but failed to establish membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements or published material about her work. She abandoned judging and leading role claims on appeal. The decision found only one criterion met, insufficient to proceed to final merits analysis.

A professional model claimed three criteria for extraordinary ability. The AAO found she met judging as panelist for a modeling agency but failed to establish nationally or internationally recognized awards and published material in major media. Without three criteria met, the appeal was dismissed.

A kickboxer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The petitioner claimed five criteria but the AAO found only one met: awards. Membership, published material, judging, and critical role were all rejected for insufficient documentation or failure to meet regulatory requirements. The petition was dismissed.

A postdoctoral researcher in life sciences sought EB-1A classification. AAO found he met only two of ten criteria: judging and scholarly articles. The original contributions criterion was rejected because citation counts and reference letters did not demonstrate major significance to the overall field. Appeal dismissed.

Blockchain solution architect seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability in business. Petitioner met only high salary criterion but failed to satisfy three minimum criteria: published material lacked required documentation, original contributions lacked evidence of field significance, and leadership role organizations lacked distinguished reputations. Appeal dismissed.

Martial artist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification in athletics. AAO found he met only two criteria and withdrew the director's favorable determinations on two others, concluding he failed to meet the required three initial criteria and lacked evidence of sustained national or international acclaim.

Violist sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification in the arts. AAO found she satisfied only one of ten required criteria, lacking sufficient evidence of national or international recognition, critical roles, or commercial success to demonstrate sustained acclaim and top-tier status.

Actor and acting coach seeking EB-1A extraordinary ability claimed six criteria but met only exhibitions. Awards lacked proof of recognition, memberships lacked expert judgment, published material uncorroborated, judging informal only, salary unsubstantiated, and commercial success lacked sales data. Appeal dismissed.