AAO research
EB-1A published material about the person — AAO decision FEB262021_05B2203: Appeal dismissed (physical p. 6). Review source status, procedural posture and…
Decision summary: AAO decision FEB262021_05B2203: Appeal dismissed (physical p. 6). Although four threshold criteria were found, AAO’s explicit final-merits review found sparse media, two judging events seven years apart, executive-role evidence limited to employers rather than field recognition, and salary evidence insufficient to establish sustained acclaim/top-of-field. AAO therefore did not reach intent-to-continue-work or prospective-benefit issues (pp. 2–6).
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: in_scope_EB1A_source_reviewed. This is a source-review label, not a legal conclusion.
Decision snapshot
Decision ID | FEB262021_05B2203 |
|---|---|
Decision date as printed | February 26, 2021 |
Classification / field stated in source | EB-1A appeal; business-development specialist and company executive. |
Procedural posture | Appeal of Texas Service Center denial; director found published material, judging, leading/critical role and high salary; AAO conducted final merits and dismissed. |
Operative disposition | Appeal dismissed (physical p. 6). |
Final-merits status | Reached and adverse: explicit “B. Final Merits Determination”; AAO found no sustained national/international acclaim or top-of-field standing despite four threshold criteria (pp. 3–6). |
What the AAO decision addressed
Although four threshold criteria were found, AAO’s explicit final-merits review found sparse media, two judging events seven years apart, executive-role evidence limited to employers rather than field recognition, and salary evidence insufficient to establish sustained acclaim/top-of-field. AAO therefore did not reach intent-to-continue-work or prospective-benefit issues (pp. 2–6).
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 coded — source PDF |
Membership | Not coded — source PDF |
Published material about the person | met |
Judging the work of others | met |
Original contributions of major significance | Not coded — source PDF |
Scholarly authorship | Not coded — source PDF |
Artistic display or showcases | Not coded — source PDF |
Leading or critical role | met |
High salary or remuneration | met |
Commercial success in the performing arts | Not coded — source PDF |
Source-cited findings recorded in review
Citations refer to physical PDF page numbers. Every page was visually inspected in source order.
How this record may be used in research
Comparison scope: Useful case on executive evidence: four threshold criteria may be insufficient when media, judging, leadership and salary do not show field-wide recognition at final merits. Potential individual page; distinguish four threshold findings from adverse final merits and reserved statutory issues.
Editorial use note: Potential individual page; distinguish four threshold findings from adverse final merits and reserved statutory issues.
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
Judging the work of others research
Leading or critical role research
High salary or remuneration research
Entrepreneurship sector research
Threshold research
Final Merits research
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