Date of Decision: MAY 27, 2022
Service Center: Texas Service Center
Form Type: Form I-140
Case Type: EB1 Extraordinary Ability
Petitioner Information
Profession: Miniatures Artist
Field: Folk Art and Miniatures
Nationality: Not Specified
Summary of Decision
Initial Decision: Denied
Appeal Outcome: Dismissed
Evidentiary Criteria Analysis
Criteria Met:
- Published Material: The Petitioner provided evidence of an article about him published in 2016. Additionally, his biography appeared in the 2018-2019 volume of Who’s Who in Visual Art, published by Art Domain Whois Publisher, Germany.
- Judging the Work of Others: The Petitioner participated as a judge/juror for various exhibitions including in 2010 and the Music Festival and Art Show in 2016.
- Authorship of Scholarly Articles: The Petitioner authored one magazine and one newspaper article in 2016.
- Artistic Exhibition: The Petitioner’s work has been displayed at craft shows, fairs, and showcases, as well as at international artistic exhibitions.
Criteria Not Met:
- Lesser Awards: The Petitioner received the Special Achievement Medal in an International Fine Arts Competition in 2016. However, the record did not include evidence of recognition beyond the event and its organizers, nor evidence that this competition is prestigious or well-known.
- Original Contributions of Major Significance: The Petitioner claimed to have invented a new and unique method for painting miniatures. However, the provided reference letters did not identify with specificity how he has remarkably impacted or influenced the field.
Key Points from the Decision
Awards and Prizes Won:
The Petitioner received the Special Achievement Medal in an International Fine Arts Competition presented by an organization in 2016. However, this award did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim.
Published Materials About the Petitioner:
The Petitioner offered one article about him published in 2016 and a biography in the 2018-2019 volume of Who’s Who in Visual Art. The limited media coverage did not reflect the sustained national or international acclaim necessary for this classification.
Original Contributions of Major Significance:
The Petitioner claimed to have invented a unique method for painting miniatures, supported by reference letters. However, the letters did not indicate that his work had been widely adopted or recognized for its major significance.
Participation as a Judge:
The Petitioner participated as a judge/juror for exhibitions in 2010 and the Music Festival and Art Show in 2016. However, there was insufficient evidence to establish that these exhibitions were prestigious or that selection as a judge was reserved for top artists in the field.
Membership in Associations:
The Petitioner submitted evidence of membership in the Association of Folk Artists, Craftsmen and Artists. However, there was no evidence to show that membership required outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
Authorship of Scholarly Articles:
The Petitioner authored one magazine and one newspaper article in 2016. This limited publication record did not reflect sustained national or international acclaim.
Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases:
The Petitioner’s work has been displayed at various craft shows, fairs, and international exhibitions. However, there was insufficient evidence of the level of acclaim these exhibitions attracted.
Supporting Documentation
- Article Published in 2016: Demonstrated some recognition but not sufficient for sustained national or international acclaim.
- Biography in Who’s Who in Visual Art: Included among 100 other artisans, not indicative of top-level national acclaim.
- Judging Evidence: Confirmed participation but lacked evidence of the prestige of the events.
- Membership Certificate: Documented membership but did not demonstrate requirements of outstanding achievements.
- Reference Letters: Praised the Petitioner’s technique but did not show wide recognition or adoption in the field.
Conclusion
Final Determination: The appeal was dismissed.
Reasoning:
The Petitioner did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim or that he is among the small percentage at the top of his field. The evidence provided did not distinguish the Petitioner from others in the field nor demonstrated a career of acclaimed work.
Next Steps:
The Petitioner may consider providing more extensive documentation of national or international recognition, evidence of the prestige of awards and judging roles, and detailed evidence of original contributions that have been widely adopted or recognized.
Download the Full Petition Review Here
Cite as Matter of G-M-, ID# 20754998
Document: MAY272022_01B2203
