EB-1A Appeals: Gymnastics
Last updated 2026-09-02
The AAO dismissed 90.0% of EB-1A appeals from Gymnastics petitioners in published non-precedent decisions from 2004–2025 (n=70). The criterion most often at issue was Prizes or awards.
Outcomes by Year
| Year | Dismissed | Sustained | Remanded | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 (—) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 (—) | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 (—) | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 (—) | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2019 | 4 (—) | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 (—) | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | 0 (—) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 (—) | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 (—) | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 (—) | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 (—) | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 (—) | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 6 (—) | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2004 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Criteria Breakdown
| Criterion | In Dismissed | In Sustained | Total | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prizes or awards | 64 | 1 | 69 | 92.8% |
| Published material about the alien | 30 | 1 | 33 | 90.9% |
| Membership in associations | 24 | 0 | 26 | 92.3% |
| Leading or critical role | 18 | 3 | 22 | 81.8% |
| Original contributions of major significance | 17 | 2 | 20 | 85.0% |
| Sustained national or international acclaim | 11 | 0 | 14 | — |
| Judging | 12 | 1 | 14 | — |
| High salary or remuneration | 9 | 0 | 11 | — |
Example Decisions
SustainedThe appeal was sustained because the AAO found that the petitioner met two additional criteria that the director had pre
Sustained2016-02-08The appeal was sustained because the AAO found that the petitioner met a third evidentiary criterion which the Director
Sustained2016-04-20The appeal was sustained because the AAO found that the petitioner, a gymnastics coach, successfully demonstrated that h
Dismissed2005-11-16The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim. The b
DismissedThe appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim. The e
DismissedThe appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim. The evi
Dismissed2022-08-31The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate eligibility under the claimed evidentiary criteria
Dismissed2014-09-24The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner sought classification as an extraordinary ability gymnastics coach but s
In sustained EB-1A appeals for Gymnastics petitioners, the AAO credited evidence such as awards shown to be nationally or internationally recognized in the field; contributions shown to be of major significance in the field (adopted or widely cited). Dismissed cases most often lacked that the awards were nationally or internationally recognized (not merely regional or local); sustained national or international acclaim in the final merits determination.
Sample: published AAO non-precedent decisions collected from uscis.gov, 2004–2025. These are appeals, not all USCIS adjudications; approval rates here are not initial-filing approval rates. Read our full methodology.
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