Date of Decision: November 23, 2022
Service Center: Nebraska Service Center
Form Type: Form I-140
Case Type: EB1 Extraordinary Ability
Petitioner Information
Profession: Soccer Coach
Field: Athletics
Nationality: Not Specified
Summary of Decision
Initial Decision: Denied
Appeal Outcome: Dismissed
Evidentiary Criteria Analysis
Criteria Met:
Published Material About the Petitioner: Evidence of published material about him and relating to his work as an athlete and coach.
Participation as a Judge for the work of others: Evidence that he had participated as a judge of the work of others in the field.
Leading or Critical Role: Evidence that he had performed in a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation.
High Salary: Evidence that he has commanded a high salary in relation to others in the field.
Criteria Not Met:
Lesser Nationally or Internationally Recognized Awards: The Petitioner claimed, but did not establish, that he received lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards.
Membership in Associations: The Petitioner claimed, but did not establish, that he had membership in associations that require outstanding achievements.
Original Contributions of Major Significance: The Petitioner claimed, but did not establish, that he made original contributions of major significance in the field.
Key Points from the Decision
Awards and Prizes Won: The Petitioner received several team-issued awards during his playing career in Trinidad and Tobago, including “Most Valuable Player” and “Best Forward” awards. However, these awards did not meet the criteria for lesser nationally or internationally recognized awards.
Published Materials About the Petitioner: More than 30 articles were submitted, primarily from Trinidad and Tobago publications, covering his career as a player and coach. The articles were mostly dated between 2004 and 2005, with a lack of recent evidence.
Original Contributions of Major Significance: The Petitioner claimed to have developed training methods used by national teams, but there was insufficient documentation to establish these contributions as original and of major significance.
Participation as a Judge: The Petitioner judged the performances of players for the Trinidad & Tobago national team and other teams. However, the judging activities were part of his job responsibilities and did not establish national or international acclaim.
Membership in Associations: The Petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence of membership in associations that require outstanding achievements.
Authorship of Scholarly Articles: Not applicable.
Leading or Critical Role Performed: The Petitioner served in a leading role for a professional team in Trinidad and Tobago. However, there was insufficient recent evidence to demonstrate sustained acclaim.
Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases: Not applicable.
Evidence of High Salary or Remuneration: The Petitioner commanded a high salary in his earlier career, but there was a lack of evidence of high salary in the five years preceding the filing of the petition.
Commercial Successes in the Performing Arts: Not applicable.
Supporting Documentation
- Published Articles: Over 30 articles from Trinidad and Tobago publications.
- Letters of Recommendation: Letters detailing the Petitioner’s roles and responsibilities as a coach.
- Salary Documentation: Evidence of high salary during his career as a player and coach in Trinidad and Tobago.
- Training Manuals: A seven-page document illustrating training drills developed by the Petitioner.
Conclusion
Final Determination: Appeal dismissed. The Petitioner did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim required for EB1 Extraordinary Ability classification.
Reasoning: The Petitioner provided evidence meeting the initial criteria, but failed to demonstrate sustained acclaim and recognition at the top of his field. The evidence of high salary and leading roles was not sufficient to establish extraordinary ability.
Next Steps: The Petitioner may consider providing additional evidence of recent accomplishments and sustained acclaim if filing a new petition. Seeking legal advice for further steps is recommended.
Download the Full Petition Review Here
Cite as Matter of G-M-, ID# 20629011
Document Name: NOV232022_01B2203
