Date of Decision: OCT. 25, 2019
Service Center: Nebraska Service Center
Form Type: Form I-140
Case Type: EB1 Extraordinary Ability
Petitioner Information
Profession: Martial Artist and Martial Arts Instructor
Field: Martial Arts
Nationality: [Not Specified]
Summary of Decision
Initial Decision: Denied
Appeal Outcome: Denied
Evidentiary Criteria Analysis
Criteria Met:
- Judging: The Petitioner served as a judge for numerous martial arts events in Uzbekistan.
Criteria Not Met:
- Awards and Prizes: The Petitioner received multiple awards at martial arts competitions, including a bronze medal in the Martial Arts Games in Thailand. However, it was determined that the awards were not nationally or internationally recognized for excellence.
- Membership in Associations: The Petitioner was a member of several martial arts federations and national teams, but it was not demonstrated that these memberships were based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
- Published Material: The Petitioner provided articles about his work in various publications. However, these publications did not qualify as major media.
- Original Contributions: The Petitioner claimed to have developed a unique and effective martial arts cross-training method, but did not provide sufficient evidence that this method had a major significance in the field.
- Authorship of Scholarly Articles: No evidence was submitted to support this criterion.
- Leading or Critical Role: The Petitioner served as the head coach of a sports club martial arts team, but did not demonstrate that the organization had a distinguished reputation.
Key Points from the Decision
Awards and Prizes Won:
- The Petitioner received numerous awards, including a bronze medal at the Martial Arts Games in Thailand. However, these awards were not recognized as nationally or internationally significant by USCIS standards.
Published Materials About the Petitioner:
- Articles in The World of News, Vatanparvar, The Army of the Uzbekistan, and Eastern Pravda were provided. However, these publications were not established as major media.
Original Contributions of Major Significance:
- The Petitioner’s cross-training method was described as original and effective, but evidence of its broader impact or recognition in the field was insufficient.
Participation as a Judge:
- The Petitioner met this criterion by serving as a judge in various martial arts events in Uzbekistan.
Membership in Associations:
- The Petitioner’s membership in martial arts federations and national teams was not sufficiently evidenced as based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
Authorship of Scholarly Articles:
- No evidence was submitted for this criterion.
Leading or Critical Role Performed:
- The Petitioner’s role as head coach was recognized, but the distinguished reputation of the organization was not established.
Supporting Documentation
- Letters of recommendation, award certificates, and articles were provided as evidence. However, these documents did not sufficiently meet the criteria for national or international recognition or impact.
Conclusion
Final Determination: The appeal is dismissed.
Reasoning: The Petitioner did not meet the required initial evidence of either a one-time achievement or at least three of the ten criteria. The totality of the evidence did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the top of his field.
Next Steps: The Petitioner may consider gathering more substantial evidence of national or international recognition and impact in the field of martial arts before reapplying.
