Date of Decision: FEB. 25, 2022
Service Center: Texas Service Center
Form Type: Form I-140
Case Type: EB1 Extraordinary Ability
Petitioner Information
Profession: Economic Historian
Field: Labor Economics and Economic History
Nationality: Not specified
Summary of Decision
Initial Decision: Denied
Appeal Outcome: Denied
Evidentiary Criteria Analysis
Criteria Met:
Participation as a Judge of the work of others: The petitioner has participated as a judge of the work of others by peer reviewing manuscripts from other scholars.
Authorship of Scholarly Articles: The petitioner has authored scholarly articles.
Lesser Nationally or Internationally Recognized Prizes or Awards: The petitioner received an Honorable Mention award for his book at a ceremony attended by the President of Turkey.
Criteria Not Met:
Membership in Associations: The petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence to show that membership in associations requires outstanding achievements.
Published Material About the Individual: The published material about the petitioner did not meet the regulatory requirements as it lacked the necessary author credit.
Original Contributions of Major Significance: The petitioner’s claimed original contributions lacked sufficient evidence to show significant influence in the field.
Key Points from the Decision
Awards and Prizes Won
The petitioner received an Honorable Mention award for his book, presented at a national ceremony by Turkey’s government, but the record does not show additional major awards.
Published Materials About the Petitioner
A review of the petitioner’s book on a major Turkish news site was provided, but other materials lacked author credit and therefore did not meet the criteria.
Original Contributions of Major Significance
Letters from colleagues praised the petitioner’s new approach to historiography, but the record did not establish how these contributions influenced the field significantly.
Participation as a Judge
The petitioner served as a peer reviewer for academic journals, which is common among academic scholars and does not alone establish extraordinary ability.
Membership in Associations
The petitioner did not demonstrate membership in associations that require outstanding achievements as a criterion.
Authorship of Scholarly Articles
The petitioner’s articles have been cited, with one book receiving 34 citations over seven years. However, this level of citation does not indicate sustained national or international acclaim.
Leading or Critical Role Performed
No evidence was provided to demonstrate a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations.
Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases
Not applicable.
Evidence of High Salary or Remuneration
No evidence of a high salary or significant remuneration was provided.
Commercial Successes in the Performing Arts
Not applicable.
Supporting Documentation
Translated Certificate: Honorable Mention award for the petitioner’s book.
Google Scholar Printouts: Citation counts for the petitioner’s work.
Letters from Colleagues and Former Students: Praising the petitioner’s new approach to historiography.
Email Correspondence: Indicating potential interest from a U.S. university professor for a visiting scholar position.
Conclusion
Final Determination: The appeal is dismissed.
Reasoning: The petitioner did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or show that he is among the small percentage at the very top of his field. The evidence provided was insufficient to establish eligibility for the EB-1 classification.
Next Steps: The petitioner may consider providing additional evidence of extraordinary ability or explore other visa options.
