Why does the AAO dismiss O-1A appeals from martial arts petitioners?

Not shown to be among the small percentage at the top of the field (12 of 28 merits dismissals); Membership criterion not met (4 of 28 merits dismissals)

Is the 87.5% dismissal rate the O-1A approval rate for martial arts?

No. These are published AAO decisions on appeals of denials, not all USCIS adjudications. Approved petitions are never appealed, so the dismissal rate on appeal is not an initial-filing approval rate. It shows which arguments the AAO rejected and which it accepted.

Can martial artists get an O-1A? What 32 AAO decisions say

Published AAO non-precedent decisions, 2004–2024 · updated 2026-10-16

Between 2004 and 2024 the AAO published 32 O-1A appeal decisions from martial arts petitioners; 1 was sustained and 25 dismissed. The most common ground for dismissal: not shown to be among the small percentage at the top of the field (12 of the 28 merits dismissals, 43%). Second: membership criterion not met (4, 14%). What the sustained decision had: awards with documented national or international recognition; 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

12 of 28 Not shown to be among the small percentage at the top of the field
“Although evidence was submitted pertaining to several criteria, it was insufficient to establish that the beneficiary is one of the small percentage who has risen to the very top of his field.” AAO, 2010
4 of 28 Membership criterion not met
“Specifically, the petitioner did not establish that the beneficiary's membership in the Egyptian National Team required outstanding achievements as judged by recognized national or international experts.” AAO, 2023

What the 1 sustained decision had

1 of 1 Awards with documented national or international recognition
“Upon review, the AAO found the record sufficient to establish the beneficiary as an alien with extraordinary ability, concurring that she met the criteria for awards and published material.” AAO, 2006
1 of 1 Published material about the person in major media
“Upon review, the AAO found the record sufficient to establish the beneficiary as an alien with extraordinary ability, concurring that she met the criteria for awards and published material.” AAO, 2006

Outcomes by Year

Year	Dismissed	Sustained	Remanded	Total
2024	1 (—)	0	0	1
2023	1 (—)	0	1	2
2022	2 (—)	0	0	2
2020	1 (—)	0	0	1
2016	2 (—)	0	0	2
2015	3 (—)	0	0	3
2013	1 (—)	0	0	1
2011	2 (—)	0	0	2
2010	2 (—)	0	0	2
2009	1 (—)	0	1	2
2007	3 (—)	0	0	3
2006	3 (—)	1	1	5
2005	2 (—)	0	0	2
2004	1 (—)	0	0	1

Criteria Breakdown

Criterion	In Dismissed	In Sustained	Total	Dismissal Rate
Awards or prizes	29	1	32	90.6%
Membership in associations	15	1	17	—
Sustained acclaim/extraordinary ability	12	0	14	—
Published material	8	1	10	—

Example Decisions

Sustained2006-03-29The appeal was sustained because the director applied an incorrect legal standard by requiring the petitioner to establish that the proffered position requires a person of extraordinary ability, a finding the AAO… Dismissed2024-10-17The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met the required number of evidentiary criteria for the O-1A classification. The AAO found the evidence submitted for the… Dismissed2023-02-14The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met at least three of the required evidentiary criteria. Specifically, the petitioner did not establish that the beneficiary's… Dismissed2022-10-04The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met the minimum of three required evidentiary criteria for extraordinary ability. The AAO concluded that the beneficiary's… Dismissed2022-05-26The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met at least three of the required evidentiary criteria. The petitioner did not establish that the beneficiary's membership in… Dismissed2016-09-26The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to submit a mandatory written advisory opinion from an appropriate consulting entity, a fatal flaw in the petition. Additionally, the petitioner did not overcome…

Dismissed cases most often lacked that the awards were nationally or internationally recognized; non-speculative evidence (claims were conclusory or unsupported); an overall finding of extraordinary ability or sustained acclaim.

Sample: published AAO non-precedent decisions collected from uscis.gov, 2004–2024. These are appeals, not all USCIS adjudications; approval rates here are not initial-filing approval rates. Read our full methodology.

Filing your own O-1A? See how your CV maps to the criteria — free strategy preview.
Get Your Free Strategy Preview →