Why does the AAO dismiss O-1B appeals from film & television petitioners?

The criterion most often at issue was Leading or critical role.

Is the 93.3% dismissal rate the O-1B approval rate for film & television?

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 film & television professionals get an O-1B? What 30 AAO decisions say

Published AAO non-precedent decisions, 2001–2024 · updated 2026-10-16

Between 2001 and 2024 the AAO published 30 O-1B appeal decisions from film & television petitioners and sustained none of them. 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

No O-1B appeal from film & television petitioners was sustained in this period. The record shows what did not work; it does not show what would.

Outcomes by Year

Year	Dismissed	Remanded	Total
2024	2 (—)	0	2
2023	1 (—)	0	1
2022	2 (—)	0	2
2021	1 (—)	0	1
2018	2 (—)	0	2
2017	3 (—)	0	3
2016	3 (—)	0	3
2015	1 (—)	1	2
2014	1 (—)	0	1
2011	2 (—)	0	2
2010	2 (—)	0	2
2008	1 (—)	0	1
2007	1 (—)	0	1
2005	2 (—)	0	2
2004	0 (—)	1	1
2001	1 (—)	0	1

Criteria Breakdown

Criterion	In Dismissed	Total	Dismissal Rate
Leading or critical role	24	26	92.3%
Significant recognition	21	24	87.5%
Awards or prizes	17	19	—
High salary or remuneration	9	10	—

Example Decisions

Dismissed2024-10-15The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met at least three of the required evidentiary criteria. The AAO found the petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence of the… Dismissed2023-04-13The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met at least three of the required evidentiary criteria. The AAO found the evidence insufficient to prove the beneficiary would… Dismissed2022-10-14The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met at least three of the required evidentiary criteria for O-1B classification. The AAO withdrew the Director's favorable… Dismissed2021-04-06The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner submitted conflicting information regarding the beneficiary's employment terms and compensation, which raised questions about its status as a bona fide employer.… Dismissed2018-06-13The appeal was dismissed because the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the beneficiary met at least three of the required evidentiary criteria for extraordinary achievement in the motion picture industry. The AAO…

Sample: published AAO non-precedent decisions collected from uscis.gov, 2001–2024. These are appeals, not all USCIS adjudications; approval rates here are not initial-filing approval rates. Read our full methodology.

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