Can journalism & media professionals get an EB-1A? What 83 AAO decisions say

Published AAO non-precedent decisions, 2003–2025 · updated 2026-10-16

Between 2003 and 2025 the AAO published 83 EB-1A appeal decisions from journalism & media petitioners; 2 were sustained and 63 dismissed. The most common ground for dismissal: not shown to be among the small percentage at the very top of the field (final merits) (21 of the 68 merits dismissals, 31%). Second: awards not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized (19, 28%). What the sustained decisions had: published material about the person in major media. These are appeals of denials, not all adjudications, so the dismissal rate is not an initial-filing approval rate; it shows which arguments the AAO rejected on appeal and which it accepted.

What the decisions say

Grounds for dismissal, by frequency

  1. 21 of 68 Not shown to be among the small percentage at the very top of the field (final merits)
    “The AAO concluded that the petitioner did not demonstrate she is among the small percentage at the very top of her field, which is the ultimate standard for this visa category.” AAO, 2019
  2. 19 of 68 Awards not shown to be nationally or internationally recognized
    “The AAO also noted that even if the merits were considered, the evidence still failed to demonstrate that the petitioner's award was for excellence in his field or that the publications featuring his work qualified as major media.” AAO, 2024
  3. 8 of 68 Membership criterion not met (no outstanding-achievement requirement)
    “The petitioner did not demonstrate that her APEX award was nationally or internationally recognized, nor that her memberships in professional associations required outstanding achievements.” AAO, 2005

What the 2 sustained decisions had

  1. 1 of 2 Published material about the person in major media
    “Specifically, the AAO determined that the petitioner satisfied the 'published material about the alien' criterion by providing articles and interviews in major national newspapers.” AAO, 2017

Outcomes by Year

YearDismissedSustainedRemandedTotal
20251 (—)001
20245 (—)049
20234 (—)015
20222 (—)013
20215 (—)027
20209 (—)009
20196 (—)006
20183 (—)003
20172 (—)103
20161 (—)102
20156 (—)006
20134 (—)004
20122 (—)002
20101 (—)001
20095 (—)005
20072 (—)002
20053 (—)003
20032 (—)002

Criteria Breakdown

CriterionIn DismissedIn SustainedTotalDismissal Rate
Prizes or awards5616290.3%
Published material about the alien3213884.2%
Judging2222878.6%
Original contributions of major significance2012774.1%
Leading or critical role1822572.0%
Membership in associations2102295.5%
Authorship of scholarly articles14017—
High salary or remuneration8212—

Example Decisions

Sustained2017-11-16The appeal was sustained because the AAO found the petitioner met three of the required evidentiary criteria, contrary to the Director's finding of only two. Specifically, the AAO determined that the petitioner… Sustained2016-02-08The appeal was sustained because the petitioner successfully established eligibility by meeting at least three of the required evidentiary criteria. The AAO found sufficient evidence that the petitioner participated as… Dismissed2003-04-27The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim. The evidence for the awards criterion was insufficient, as the awards were deemed local or regional, and… Dismissed2005-12-22The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim. The petitioner did not demonstrate that her APEX award was nationally or internationally recognized, nor… Dismissed2009-07-08The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that a national award he received was for excellence specifically in his claimed field of journalism. The director concluded that the evidence did… Dismissed2023-02-07The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner did not demonstrate meeting at least three of the required evidentiary criteria. The AAO declined to consider new evidence submitted on appeal, stating it should have been… Dismissed2020-12-16The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that they met at least three of the required evidentiary criteria. While the Director had initially found three criteria met, the AAO disagreed with…

Sample: published AAO non-precedent decisions collected from uscis.gov, 2003–2025. These are appeals, not all USCIS adjudications; approval rates here are not initial-filing approval rates. Read our full methodology.

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