Date of Decision: JAN. 28, 2016
Service Center: Texas Service Center
Form Type: Form I-140
Case Type: EB1 Extraordinary Ability
Petitioner Information
Profession: Table Tennis Coach
Field: Athletics
Nationality: Not specified
Summary of Decision
Initial Decision: Denied
Appeal Outcome: Denied
Evidentiary Criteria Analysis
Criteria Met:
- Major Internationally Recognized Awards: The petitioner demonstrated a major, internationally recognized award as an athlete.
- Original Contributions of Major Significance: Offered evidence of training world-class athletes but failed to show major international successes directly attributable to his coaching.
Criteria Not Met:
- Leading or Critical Role: Did not provide sufficient evidence of a leading or critical role in a distinguished organization.
- High Salary or Remuneration: No evidence to support high remuneration compared to others in the field.
- Published Materials About the Petitioner: No significant published materials about the petitioner’s work as a coach.
- Judging the Work of Others: No evidence provided of participation as a judge of others in the field of athletics.
- Membership in Associations: No memberships in associations that require outstanding achievements of their members were demonstrated.
Key Points from the Decision
Awards and Prizes Won:
- The petitioner has historically won major awards in athletics but failed to demonstrate recent achievements that would support sustained acclaim.
Supporting Documentation
- Various letters and statements from athletes and organizations were submitted which recognized the petitioner’s contributions as a coach and athlete. However, these were insufficient to meet the evidentiary standards required.
Conclusion
Final Determination: The appeal is dismissed. The petitioner did not sufficiently demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim as a coach or that his prior athletic achievements provided a basis for extraordinary ability in coaching.
Reasoning: The evidence did not meet the required number of evidentiary criteria to establish eligibility for the classification sought. Although some criteria were met, they did not collectively or substantively support the claim of extraordinary ability in coaching.
Next Steps: The petitioner may consider gathering more robust documentation that clearly connects recent coaching achievements to sustained national or international acclaim.
