All EB-1A appeals
EB-1A appeals: Sports
133 real anonymized AAO decisions on the EB-1A talent visa in Sports - with the criteria and reasons broken down per case. These are appeals (mostly denials): a base for studying real reasons, not approval statistics.
Outcomes
Dismissed: 113 (85%) · remanded: 17 (13%) · sustained: 3 (2%)
Criteria in this field
Counted most: Awards, Judging, Published material about you; NOT counted most: Membership, Published material about you, Original contribution
All cases (133)
- Athletics (MMA)2025 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Sports/Self-Defense (Boxing/Methodology)2025 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/4
- Judo (Coaching)2025 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/3
- Athletics (MMA)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/5
- Athletics (Handball)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Mountain Climbing/Athletics2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Sports Event Planning/Athletics2024 · case remanded · criteria 4/4
- Athletics (Pickleball)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/8
- Athletics (Judo)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 4/4
- Fitness Training/Bodybuilding2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/6
- Athletics2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Life Coaching/Motivational Leadership/Business and Organizational Advisor2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/3
- Athletics (Hockey Referee)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Athletics (Jiu-Jitsu)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Athletics (Soccer)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/3
- Athletics (Powerlifting)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/3
- Athletics (Triathlon)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/4
- Athletics (Soccer)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/3
- Athletics (Gymnastics)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Pole and arial sport (pole fitness)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/1
- Athletics (Water Polo)2024 · case remanded · criteria 0/1
- Athletics (Judo)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/3
- Fitness (Yoga and Facial Gymnastics)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/4
- Athletics2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/1
- Athletics (Golf)2024 · case remanded · criteria 3/4
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Athletics)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/3
- Athletics (Synchronized Swimming)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/0
- Athletics (Volleyball)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 4/7
- Athletics2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Athletics (Taekwon-Do)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Not explicitly stated, but appears to be a competitive sport2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Athletics (MMA)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Athletics2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
- Security Management and Fitness Training2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/6
- Athletics (Competitive Cycling)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/3
- Brazilian Jiujitsu (Coach)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Athletics (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)2024 · case remanded · criteria 3/3
- Athletics (Jiu-Jitsu)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/8
- Athletics2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Athletics/Coaching)2024 · case remanded · criteria 3/3
- Equestrian (Show Jumping - Athlete and Trainer)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/5
- Athletics (Dogsledding)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/2
- Athletics (Athletic Trainer/Coach)2024 · case remanded · criteria 0/2
- Athletics (Jiu-Jitsu)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
- Athletics (Gymnastics)2024 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Dressage (Equestrian Sports)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 3/4
- Athletics2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/4
- Athletics (Swimming)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 3/4
- Athletics2023 · case remanded · criteria 1/3
- Athletics (Baseball)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/4
- Athletics2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/3
- Athletics2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Athletics (Karate)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/2
- Athletics (Water Skiing)2023 · case remanded · criteria 3/7
- Athletics (Baseball)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/2
- Athletics (Chess)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Athletics (Competitive Swimming)2023 · case remanded · criteria 3/4
- Bodybuilding/Athletics2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/4
- Athletics (Soccer)2023 · case remanded · criteria 2/3
- Athletics2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
- Athletics (Soccer)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Athletics (Judo and Sambo)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Soccer (Athletics/Coaching)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Athletics (Tennis)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
- Athletics (Baseball)2023 · appeal sustained · criteria 4/4
- Athletics (MMA)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Athletics (Figure Skating)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Figure Skating (Choreographer and Coach)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/7
- Soccer (Coaching)2023 · appeal dismissed · criteria 4/4
- Athletics (Soccer)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/4
- Soccer (Athletics)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 4/7
- Tennis Coaching2022 · case remanded · criteria 0/0
- Coaching2022 · case remanded · criteria 3/7
- Athletics (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/5
- speech and theatrical coaching2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 3/3
- Athletics2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/8
- Athletics (Coaching)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 4/7
- Athletics (Rhythmic Gymnastics)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/2
- Athletics2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Athlete2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/0
- Fitness Equipment Industry (Business Executive)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/0
- Instruction (specifically, instruction related to a sport)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
- Athletics2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Education (specifically, teaching/coaching/speaking in a movement and meditation discipline)2022 · case remanded · criteria 1/4
- Athletics (Soccer)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/3
- Vehicle competition and recreation / Motorsports2022 · case remanded · criteria 1/1
- Athletics2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/1
- Athletics (Competitive Swimming)2022 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/5
- Athletics (Bodybuilding)2021 · case remanded · criteria 3/7
- Athletics2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Athletics2021 · appeal sustained · criteria 5/5
- Weightlifting (Athlete)2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/0
- Athletics (Boxing)2021 · case remanded · criteria 2/5
- Squash Coach2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/6
- Athletics (Volleyball)2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/6
- Business (Rail Transportation Systems)2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/4
- Finance/Minority Business Coaching2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/7
- Boxing and Kickboxing2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Wrestling Coach2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/6
- Athletics - Rock Climbing2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Athletics2021 · case remanded · criteria 0/0
- Athletics2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 3/5
- Athletics (Racehorse Jockey)2021 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/6
- Ballroom Dancing/Coaching2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/2
- Water Polo Coach2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/6
- Athletics (Judo and Sambo)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Taekwondo and Kickboxing (Competitive Athlete)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/6
- Athletics (Track and Field)2020 · appeal sustained · criteria 4/4
- Acrobatic Gymnastics (Coaching)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Athletics (Greco-Roman Wrestling)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/4
- Athletics (Mountain Biking/Cycling)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/2
- Athletics (Karate)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Athletics (Weightlifting)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/6
- Athletics (Rowing Coach)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/3
- Athletics (Bodybuilding)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/4
- Ice Skating (Coach and Choreographer)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/4
- Athletics (Wrestling)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/5
- Master Mariner/Maritime Transportation2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/6
- Athletics (Gymnastics)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 3/5
- Jiu Jitsu (Coaching)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/7
- Athletics (Rowing)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 3/4
- Athletics2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
- Personal Fitness Training2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/8
- Business (Business Consulting for the Fitness Industry)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/6
- Athletics (Gymnastics)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
- Athletics (Boxing and Kickboxing)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/5
- Athletics (Taekwondo)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/6
- Athletics2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/6
- Athletics (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 2/3
- Athletics (Water Polo)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/1
- Athletics (Horse Owner/Breeder - Dressage/Jumping)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 0/8
- Athletics2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/4
- Athletics (MMA)2020 · appeal dismissed · criteria 1/3
FAQ
- How do EB-1A appeals in Sports usually end?
- Of 133 cases in the base: 113 dismissed (85%), 17 remanded (13%), 3 sustained (2%). These are appeals - mostly denials; you cannot derive visa approval odds from them.
- Which criteria are counted most often in Sports?
- Counted most often: Awards (52), Judging (32), Published material about you (30). NOT counted most often: Membership (76), Published material about you (72), Original contribution (56).
Related
Approval stories
Other fields
Based on: 1,242 AAO EB-1A appeal decisions · issued Jan 2020 - Feb 2025 · USCIS: AAO non-precedent decisions · all decisions
Sources
Public anonymized AAO decisions. Reference information, not legal advice; the appeal sample skews toward denials and does not reflect approval odds.