Date of Decision: September 14, 2022
Service Center: Nebraska Service Center
Form Type: Form I-140
Case Type: EB1 Extraordinary Ability
Petitioner Information
- Profession: Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete and coach
- Field: Martial Arts (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
- Nationality: Brazilian
Summary of Decision
- Initial Decision: Denied
- Appeal Outcome: Dismissed
Evidentiary Criteria Analysis
Criteria Met:
- Lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards: The Petitioner received medals at the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and Brazilian National Championship events.
- Participation as a judge: The Petitioner served as a referee for jiu-jitsu competitions, demonstrating his role in judging the work of others in the field.
Criteria Not Met:
- Membership in associations that require outstanding achievements: The Petitioner’s membership in the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) as a certified black belt did not meet the requirement of being judged by recognized national or international experts.
- Leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation: The Petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that he performed in a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation. The evidence provided was not detailed or probative enough to establish the significance of his role.
Key Points from the Decision
Awards and Prizes Won:
- Summary of findings: The Petitioner’s medals at major jiu-jitsu competitions were recognized as evidence of meeting the criterion for lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards.
Participation as a Judge:
- Summary of findings: The Petitioner’s documented role as a referee in jiu-jitsu competitions was sufficient to meet the judging criterion.
Membership in Associations:
- Summary of findings: The Petitioner’s IBJJF black belt certification did not fulfill the criterion as it did not involve being judged for outstanding achievements by recognized experts.
Leading or Critical Role:
- Summary of findings: The evidence provided did not sufficiently demonstrate that the Petitioner played a critical role in organizations with a distinguished reputation. Letters from affiliated organizations lacked detailed and probative information on the impact and importance of the Petitioner’s contributions.
Supporting Documentation
- Medals and Awards: Documents and certificates from IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and Brazilian National Championship.
- Referee Documentation: Records of participation as a referee in various jiu-jitsu competitions.
- IBJJF Membership Proof: Screenshot of the Petitioner’s member page and IBJJF black belt certificate.
Conclusion
- Final Determination: Appeal dismissed
- Reasoning: The Petitioner did not meet the required initial evidence of a one-time achievement or documents that meet at least three of the ten criteria. Additionally, the record did not support a finding of sustained national or international acclaim.
- Next Steps: The Petitioner may consider gathering more robust and comprehensive evidence to support claims in any future petitions or appeals, ensuring that all criteria are thoroughly documented and substantiated.
