EB-1A Appeals: Psychology & Social Sciences
Last updated 2026-09-02
The AAO dismissed 92.3% of EB-1A appeals from Psychology & Social Sciences petitioners in published non-precedent decisions from 2009–2025 (n=26). The criterion most often at issue was Prizes or awards.
Outcomes by Year
| Year | Dismissed | Sustained | Remanded | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 (—) | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 (—) | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 (—) | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 (—) | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 (—) | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 (—) | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 (—) | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 (—) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 (—) | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Criteria Breakdown
| Criterion | In Dismissed | In Sustained | Total | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prizes or awards | 13 | 1 | 15 | — |
| Original contributions of major significance | 12 | 1 | 14 | — |
| Leading or critical role | 10 | 1 | 12 | — |
| Authorship of scholarly articles | 9 | 1 | 11 | — |
Example Decisions
Sustained2020-01-07The appeal was sustained on a motion to reopen because the petitioner submitted new, more detailed evidence. This new in
Dismissed2014-04-23The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to establish eligibility under at least three of the required evi
Dismissed2017-11-30The motion to reconsider was denied because it failed to meet the procedural requirements. The petitioner did not demons
Dismissed2015-03-23The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate extraordinary ability through either a major, inte
Dismissed2019-08-13The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate she met at least three of the ten regulatory crite
Dismissed2013-11-12The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to establish sustained national or international acclaim by meeti
In sustained EB-1A appeals for Psychology & Social Sciences petitioners, the AAO credited evidence such as 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).
Sample: published AAO non-precedent decisions collected from uscis.gov, 2009–2025. These are appeals, not all USCIS adjudications; approval rates here are not initial-filing approval rates. Read our full methodology.
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