AAO research
EB-1A withdrawal and mootness — AAO decision APR082019_02B2203: Director decision withdrawn; remanded for further action and new decision. Review source…
Decision summary: AAO decision APR082019_02B2203: Director decision withdrawn; remanded for further action and new decision. AAO explained being a lawyer does not categorically bar EB-1A if extraordinary ability is in business or another qualifying endeavor. It found occupation-scope evidence sufficient to show the work fell within business but did not determine any criterion or ultimate eligibility.
Source reviewed: This page summarizes the specific AAO source and posture recorded in the completed source-review tracker. It does not turn a nonprecedent decision into a general rule.
Scope classification from review: EB-1A occupation-scope remand; criteria and final merits unresolved.. This is a source-review label, not a legal conclusion.
Decision snapshot
Decision ID | APR082019_02B2203 |
|---|---|
Decision date as printed | April 8, 2019 |
Classification / field stated in source | EB-1A appeal; decision withdrawn and Remanded |
Procedural posture | Director denied because occupation was not within statutory EB-1A fields. AAO found evidence showed intended work within business; it Remanded for evaluation of a major award or three criteria, then final merits if threshold met. |
Operative disposition | Director decision withdrawn; Remanded for further action and new decision. |
Final-merits status | Not reached; initial criteria and final merits Remanded. |
What the AAO decision addressed
AAO explained being a lawyer does not categorically bar EB-1A if extraordinary ability is in business or another qualifying endeavor. It found occupation-scope evidence sufficient to show the work fell within business but did not determine any criterion or ultimate eligibility.
Criterion-by-criterion status in this source
These labels reproduce the source-review record. “Not considered,” “not reached,” and “not coded” do not mean the criterion failed. A Director finding recited as background is not an AAO holding unless the decision says so.
Criterion | Source-review status |
|---|---|
Awards | Not reached — source PDF |
Membership | Not reached — source PDF |
Published material about the person | Not reached — source PDF |
Judging the work of others | Not reached — source PDF |
Original contributions of major significance | Not reached — source PDF |
Scholarly authorship | Not reached — source PDF |
Artistic display or showcases | Not coded — source PDF |
Leading or critical role | Not reached — source PDF |
High salary or remuneration | Not reached — source PDF |
Commercial success in the performing arts | Not reached — source PDF |
Source-cited findings recorded in review
claim: Cover identifies Matter of J-L-, April 8, 2019; petitioner is a lawyer seeking EB-1A classification in business.; pages: 1
claim: Petitioner described work as managing lawyer of Chinese law firm and partner of a U.S. firm; intended work included business-client development and cross-border strategic advice.; pages: 2; 3
claim: AAO states practicing law does not itself disqualify a person whose extraordinary-ability endeavor is business; finds occupation falls within business scope.; pages: 3
claim: AAO remands for director to decide one-time award or three criteria, and final merits if initial threshold is met.; pages: 3; 4
How this record may be used in research
Comparison scope: Eligible for occupation-scope and procedural remand discussion only.
Page-level source trail
Use the official PDF and the cited physical page numbers to check each statement.
How to use this record
This is a historical, nonprecedent AAO decision about its own administrative record. It is not a prediction, success rate, or current filing instruction. Compare the issue and procedural stage before drawing an analogy. The current framework is in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part F, Chapter 2.
Related corpus research
Full-corpus research index
Published material about the person research
Leading or critical role research
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