Date of Decision: JAN. 24, 2022
Service Center: Nebraska Service Center
Form Type: Form I-140
Case Type: EB1 Extraordinary Ability
Petitioner Information
Profession: Wood Carving Craftsman
Field: Woodcarving
Nationality: Uzbek
Summary of Decision
Initial Decision: Denied
Appeal Outcome: Dismissed
Evidentiary Criteria Analysis
Criteria Met
Participation as a Judge: The Petitioner has served as a judge of the work of others in his field.
Criteria Not Met
Lesser Awards: The Petitioner did not submit sufficient evidence to demonstrate that his awards were nationally or internationally recognized.
Membership in Associations: The Petitioner did not establish that the associations required outstanding achievements as a condition of membership or that admittance was determined by recognized experts in the field.
Published Material: The Petitioner did not provide evidence that published material about him appeared in major trade publications or other major media.
Original Contributions of Major Significance: The evidence did not show that the Petitioner’s work had a significant impact on the field of woodcarving.
Authorship of Scholarly Articles: The Petitioner did not establish that his articles were scholarly or published in professional or major trade publications.
Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases: The Petitioner did not demonstrate that his work was displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Key Points from the Decision
Awards and Prizes Won
The Petitioner claimed to have received numerous awards, including the UNESCO Seal of Excellence and the Best Craftsman of the Year awards. However, he failed to prove that these awards were nationally or internationally recognized.
Published Materials About the Petitioner
The Petitioner provided articles and letters but did not demonstrate that the publications were major trade publications or other major media. The articles also had inconsistencies regarding their authorship and titles.
Original Contributions of Major Significance
The Petitioner’s letters of support praised his work but lacked specific examples of contributions that influenced the field of woodcarving significantly.
Participation as a Judge
The Petitioner successfully demonstrated his participation as a judge of the work of others in his field, which was one of the criteria he met.
Membership in Associations
The Petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that his memberships required outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
Authorship of Scholarly Articles
The articles provided did not meet the standards of scholarly articles and were not published in professional or major trade publications.
Leading or Critical Role Performed
The Petitioner did not establish that he had performed a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation.
Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases
The Petitioner’s certificates and diplomas did not sufficiently prove that his work was displayed at recognized artistic exhibitions or showcases.
Evidence of High Salary or Remuneration
The Petitioner did not provide evidence of high salary or remuneration in relation to others in his field.
Commercial Successes in the Performing Arts
Not applicable.
Supporting Documentation
The Petitioner provided various certificates, diplomas, and letters from colleagues and organizations, but these were insufficient to meet the evidentiary requirements.
Conclusion
Final Determination: The appeal was dismissed.
Reasoning: The Petitioner failed to meet the required initial evidence criteria and did not demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim in the field of woodcarving.
Next Steps: The Petitioner may consider submitting additional evidence or reapplying with more robust documentation.
