dismissed
EB-1A
dismissed EB-1A Case: Medical Research
Decision Summary
The motion to reconsider was denied because the petitioner did not establish that the previous decision was based on an incorrect application of law or policy. The motion to reopen was denied because the petitioner did not submit new evidence demonstrating eligibility under at least three of the required criteria, having only previously met the scholarly articles criterion.
Criteria Discussed
Membership In Associations Authorship Of Scholarly Articles One-Time Achievement (Major Award)
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U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration
Services
Non-Precedent Decision of the
Administrative Appeals Office
MATTER OF H-X- DATE: JAN. 28, 2019
MOTION ON ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OFFICE. DECISION
PETITION: FORM 1-140, IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER
The Petitioner, a clinical investigator, seeks classification as an individual of extraordinary ability.
See Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) section 203(b)(l)(A), 8 U.S.C. § l 153(b)(l)(A). This
first preference classification makes immigrant visas available to those who can demonstrate their
extraordinary ability through sustained national or international acclaim and whose achievements
have been recognized in their field through extensive documentation.
The Director of the Texas Service Center revoked the approval of the petition, concluding that the
Petitioner had not satisfied the initial evidentiary requirements set forth at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3),
which require documentati9n of a one-time achievement or evidence that meets at least three of the
10 regulatory criteria at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(i)-(x). We affirmed the Director's decision on
appeal. The Petitioner then filed a motion to reopen and reconsider our previous decision, which we
denied. 1
The matter is now before us on the second motions to reopen and reconsider. On motion, the
Petitioner submits additional documentation, asserting that he meets at least three criteria for this
classification under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3).
Upon de novo review, we will deny both motions.
· I. LAW
A motion to reconsider is based on an incorrect application of law or policy, and a motion to reopen
is based on documentary evidence of new facts. The requirements of a motion to reconsider are
located at 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(3), and the requirements of a motion to reopen are located at 8 C.F.R.
§ 103.5(a)(2). We may grant a motion that satisfies these requirements and demonstrates eligibility
for the requested immigration benefit.
Section 203{b)(l)(A) of the Act makes visas available to immigrants with extraordinary ability. The
term ."extraordinary ability"·refers only to those individuaJs in "that small percentage who have risen
:#'
1 Our most recent decision in this matter is Matter of H-X-,' ID# 1227778 (AAO Jun. 15, 2018).
Matter of H-X-
to the very top of the field of endeavor." 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(2). A petitioner can demonstrate a
one-time acq.ievement (that is a major, internationally recognized award). Alternatively, he or she
must provide documentation that meets at least three of the ten categories of evidence listed at
8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(i)-(x) (including items such as awards, memberships, and published material
in certain media). Where a petitioner submits qualifying evidence under at least three criteria, we
will determine whether the totality of the record shows sustained national or international acclaim
and demonstrates that the individual is among the. small percentage at the very top of the field of
endeavor. See Kazarian v. USCIS. 596 F .3d 1115 (9th Cir. 2010) ( discussing a two-part review
where the documentation is first counted and then, if fulfilling the required number of criteria,
considered in-the context ofa final merits determination).
II. ANALYSIS
In our prior decision, we held that the Petitioner did not meet the requirements for a motion to
reconsider and that the new evidence he submitted with the motion to reopen did ·not establish
eligibility under the membership criterion at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(ii). Here, the Petitioner submits
this joint motion to reopen and reconsider our previous decision in which we reached those
conclusions.
A. Motion to Reconsider
A motion to reconsider must establish that our decision was based on an incorrect application of law
or policy and that the decision was incorrect based on the evidence in the record of proceedings at
the time of _the decision. 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(3). It must be supported by. a pertinent precedent or
adopted decision, statutory or regulatory provision, or statement of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) or Department of Homeland Security (OHS) policy.
The Petitioner does not cite binding precedent decisions or other legal authority establishing that we
incorrectly applied the pertinent law or agency policy in our prior decision based on the evidence of
record at the time. To establish eligibility, we note that the Petitioner cites regulations from the
Food and Drug Administration, which are not dispositive in this matter: Therefore, the Petitioner
has not established that our prior decision was based on an incorrect application of law or policy, and
he has not met the requirements for a motion to reconsider.2
2 The Petitioner contends that the authority of the Attorney General, now the Secretary of DHS, to revoke the approval of
a petition, as stated in section 205 of the Act, does not extend to the Director. While this is beyond the scope of our
review, we note that section 204 of the Act gives the Attorney General authority over petitions for aliens seeking
classification as an alien of extraordinary ability. Section 204(a)( I )(E) of the Act, 8 U .S.C. § I I 54(a)( I )(E); see also
. 8 C.F.R. § 2.1 (allowing the Secretary of DHS to delegate her authority) and 8 C.F.R. § 205.2 (stating that a Service
officer authorized to approve a petition u.nder section 204 of the Act has autho'rity to revoke the approval ofa petition). ·
2
.
Matter of H-X-
B. Motion to Reopen
A motion to reopen must state new facts and be supported by document~ry evidence. 8 C.F.R .
. § 103.5(a)(2). We interpret "new facts" to mean facts that are relevant to the issue(s) raised on
motion and that have not been previously submitted in the proceeding, which includes the original
petition. Reasserting previously stated facts or resubmitting previously provided evidence does not
constitute "new facts."
In our dismissal of his appeal, we held that the Petitioner.met only the scholarly articles criterion at
8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(vi). In his first motion, he submitted new evidence related to his membership
in the , .and we found that this evidence failed to satisfy the regulatory
requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(ii). In the instant motion, he submits several pages from the
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual, highlighting the occupational description for
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, under SOC code 19-1042, and he resubmits other
material already in the record. Here, the Petitioner does not explain how the information from the
SOC manual relates to his claim regarding the membership criterion, nor does he show how it
establishes eligibility under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(h)(3)(ii). Therefore, the Petitioner has not met the
requirements for a motion· to reopen.
III._ CONCLUSION
The Petitioner has not demonstrated that he meets at least three of the criteria under 8 C.F.R.
§ 204.5(h)(3)(i)-(x). The motion to reconsider is denied because the Petitioner has not established
that our previous findings were based on an incorrect application of the law, regulations, or USCIS
policy. Th~ motion to reopen is denied because the Petitioner has not submitted new evidence
demonstrating that he meets the initial requirements for the classification sought.
ORDER: The motion to reconsider is denied.
·-·
FURTHER ORDER: The motion to reopen is denied.
Cite as Matter of H~X-, ID# 1925252 {AAO Jan. 28, 2019)
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