AAO research
EB-1A original contributions of major significance — AAO decision MAY032019_01B2203: Appeal dismissed (p. 5). Review source status, procedural posture and…
Decision summary: AAO decision MAY032019_01B2203: Appeal dismissed (p. 5). AAO found evidence did not show original scientific contributions of major significance. Citation counts and letters showed publications and attention, but not field-wide impact, adoption or influence; the petitioner failed the required initial threshold. Final merits was not reached (pp. 2–5).
Source limitation: The review record contains a source hold or limitation. Read the limitation below before relying on any case detail; unresolved facts are not treated as findings.
Scope classification from review: In scope; verified in source review. This is a source-review label, not a legal conclusion.
Decision snapshot
Decision ID | MAY032019_01B2203 |
|---|---|
Decision date as printed | May 3, 2019 |
Classification / field stated in source | EB-1A extraordinary ability in sciences; petitioner is a medical physicist (p. 1). |
Procedural posture | Appeal of Nebraska Service Center denial; petitioner appealed denial based on original-contributions criterion and submitted research/citation evidence (pp. 1–3). |
Operative disposition | Appeal dismissed (p. 5). |
Final-merits status | Not coded in the normalized review fields |
What the AAO decision addressed
AAO found evidence did not show original scientific contributions of major significance. Citation counts and letters showed publications and attention, but not field-wide impact, adoption or influence; the petitioner failed the required initial threshold. Final merits was not reached (pp. 2–5).
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 | Not coded — source PDF |
Judging the work of others | met — source PDF |
Original contributions of major significance | not met |
Scholarly authorship | met — source PDF |
Artistic display or showcases | Not coded — source PDF |
Leading or critical role | Not coded — source PDF |
High salary or remuneration | Not coded — source PDF |
Commercial success in the performing arts | Not coded — source PDF |
Source holds and limits
"Research topic and institution are redacted; do not infer clinical benefit beyond source."
Source-cited findings recorded in review
p1: Matter of J-A- cover; medical physicist and appeal.; p2: Director’s criteria findings; original-contribution issue on appeal.; p3: Original-contributions standard; citations and field relevance.; p4: Expert letters and research claims assessed; evidence did not establish major significance.; p5: Conclusion: initial threshold not met; appeal dismissed.
How this record may be used in research
Comparison scope: Useful medical-research example for distinguishing publication/citation activity from demonstrated major significance. Eligible for a narrow negative research summary with the two satisfied criteria separated from the failed contribution claim.
Editorial use note: Eligible for a narrow negative research summary with the two satisfied criteria separated from the failed contribution claim.
Page-level source trail
Use the official PDF and the cited physical page numbers to check each statement.
PDF page 1 — Matter of J-A- cover; medical physicist and appeal.
PDF page 2 — Director’s criteria findings; original-contribution issue on appeal.
PDF page 3 — Original-contributions standard; citations and field relevance.
PDF page 5 — Conclusion: initial threshold not met; appeal dismissed.
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
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Original contributions of major significance research
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