Published AAO appeal decisions

Postdoctoral research associate sought EB-1A classification. Met judging and scholarly articles criteria. Claimed original contributions based on publications, presentations, and citations. AAO rejected original contributions criterion, finding publication venue and citation counts insufficient to show major significance. Appeal dismissed for failing to meet three criteria.

A surgeon sought extraordinary ability classification, and the service center denied the petition for lacking a one-time achievement or three evidentiary criteria. On appeal, the AAO found the petitioner had since adjusted to permanent resident status through an unrelated proceeding, so the matter was moot and the appeal was dismissed.

A pianist claimed three additional criteria for extraordinary ability. The AAO rejected the service center's findings on awards and published material, finding no national recognition. Original contributions proved unsubstantiated. With fewer than three qualifying criteria, petition failed. Appeal dismissed.

A boxer and kickboxer sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. The AAO found the petitioner met one criterion (awards) but failed to establish three required criteria overall. The petitioner lacked sustained national or international acclaim and had not demonstrated the career of acclaimed work required for extraordinary ability.

An orchestral violinist sought extraordinary ability classification after the service center found no one-time achievement and fewer than three criteria met. On appeal the petitioner never contested the denial and filed no promised brief or evidence, so the AAO summarily dismissed for failing to identify any error.

Law firm petitions for instructional coordinator with doctorate in literature as EB-1A extraordinary ability applicant. Petitioner claimed four criteria met. AAO dismissed, finding none adequately established: awards were mere participation acknowledgments; published material not about beneficiary; judging unconfirmed; contributions lacked demonstrated major significance.

A law firm petitioned for its instructional coordinator, a literature scholar and former professor, as an extraordinary ability alien. The director found two criteria met. The AAO agreed on scholarly articles but withdrew the judging finding and rejected awards and published material, so three criteria were not satisfied and top-of-field standing was not shown.

A singer from Venezuela seeks EB-1A extraordinary ability classification based on performances with various ensembles. She met only the judging criterion and one other award was found insufficient to establish national recognition. The AAO dismissed, finding she failed to meet the three-criterion threshold and lacks the sustained national or international acclaim required for the classification.

A pharmacology researcher at a Malaysian university claimed six criteria for extraordinary ability. The AAO found only judging and scholarly articles met requirements. Original contributions lacked evidence of field significance; memberships did not require outstanding achievement; and the record failed to show sustained national or international acclaim.

Industrial lubricants entrepreneur and company founder satisfied three evidentiary criteria on initial review. However, AAO found on final merits that petitioner failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or placement among top field practitioners.

Fashion model petitioned for extraordinary ability. Claimed seven criteria without meeting three-criterion standard. Petitioner failed comparable evidence showing and did not establish criteria satisfaction. Appeal dismissed due to insufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim among upper echelon models.

Entrepreneur in business and logistics sought EB-1A extraordinary ability. Director found no criteria met. AAO analyzed only awards criterion, rejecting them as company awards not individual recognition. First prong failed; remaining claimed criteria not analyzed. Appeal dismissed.

Jinghu musician sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Met published material criterion through newspaper article but failed to satisfy three required criteria. Original contributions lacked evidence of major significance to field; organizations lacked distinguished reputation; evidence did not demonstrate sustained acclaim or top-tier status. Appeal dismissed.

Assistant professor of anesthesiology sought EB-1A extraordinary ability classification. Met judging criterion but failed three others. Published material did not qualify; original contributions, though evidenced by modest citations and presentations, lacked major significance; leading role unsupported; evidence did not demonstrate elite status. Appeal dismissed.

A visual effects producer claimed extraordinary ability through five criteria. The AAO found the petitioner did not satisfy at least three required criteria: membership evidence was insufficient, recommendation letters lacked specificity about major contributions, and work did not demonstrate field-wide impact or sustained international acclaim.

Multimedia designer self-petitioner claimed extraordinary ability based on five criteria. AAO found only judging and exhibitions criteria met; published materials not in major media, and leading roles not substantiated by organizational charts or documentation. Appeal dismissed as petitioner failed to establish three criteria and sustained national or international acclaim.

A postdoctoral optoelectronics researcher sought EB-1A. Met judging and scholarly articles criteria. Claimed original contributions based on 1,131 citations but AAO found cumulative citations and ranking do not establish major significance. Only two of three required criteria met. No sustained national acclaim demonstrated.

Immunology and food allergy researcher petitioner met two of three required initial criteria (judging and scholarly articles). AAO dismissed appeal, finding petitioner failed original contributions criterion; highly-cited publications alone insufficient without evidence of major field significance and lacking national or international acclaim.

Philanthropist and foundation president in China seeks EB-1A. Met judging criterion with two speech contests. Claimed published material, original contributions, and leading role. AAO found published material lacked corroboration and major medium status; original contributions not shown to be major or field-impacting. Appeal dismissed.

A law firm petitioned for a beneficiary in an advisory role claiming extraordinary ability. The AAO affirmed the service center's finding that the beneficiary met only judging and scholarly articles criteria. The decision rejected original contributions as major significance and leading role claims. The beneficiary lacked sustained national or international acclaim required for extraordinary ability.

A set designer for films seeks extraordinary ability classification. Met only one criterion (display/exhibitions) despite claiming additional criteria. AAO found insufficient evidence of sustained national or international acclaim or membership among the very top professionals in set design.

Pianist sought EB-1A classification. Claimed awards, published material, and judging. AAO found only judging criterion met; awards lacked national recognition and publications were not in recognized trade outlets. Appeal dismissed because insufficient criteria satisfied and no evidence of sustained acclaim.

A mountain biker and cyclist sought EB-1A classification and met only the published material criterion. The AAO dismissed because he failed to establish three required criteria and lacked sustained national or international acclaim, with no sufficient evidence of upper-echelon status in professional cycling.

A wireless engineer and CTO of a startup claimed three evidentiary criteria: judging, original contributions, and scholarly articles. The AAO found all three met but dismissed the appeal because, while the evidence showed innovative research and citations, it did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim at the level required for extraordinary ability.

Motion picture production designer and art director sought extraordinary ability classification. AAO dismissed, finding only two of seven claimed criteria satisfied, progression from student work to assistant positions insufficient, and no sustained national or international acclaim establishing she is among small percentage at very top of field.