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RFE objection "Social media does not qualify": how it was answered

Key answer

Posts on Instagram, YouTube, and similar apps were found insufficient for this criterion. Use published editorial materials in recognized media or specialized publications, not social media.

The objection belongs to the "Media about you" criterion. Below is what the community did to close it: the order of steps, the documents that were attached and the wording that went into the answer.

Steps that closed it

  1. Do not use social media as the main evidence for the media publications criterion
  2. Collect independent publications in registered media outlets or professional publications
  3. Check that the material is about the applicant, not only a project, company, or event
  4. Prepare links to articles, PDF copies, and screenshots showing the date, media outlet name, and authorship
  5. Add a brief explanation of why each outlet qualifies as media and why the publication supports the applicant's significance
  6. If there are no publications, obtain new materials through interviews, expert comments, or industry reviews in independent media

What was attached

  • Articles in online media with an editorial policy and publication details
  • An interview with the applicant in an industry publication
  • Publications where the applicant is identified as an expert or key participant
  • PDF or archived copies of materials showing the publication date
  • Information about the publication: editorial page, contacts, ISSN, or media registration if available

How the answer was worded

Social media is not claimed as media. The evidence includes independent publications in industry media where the applicant is described as an expert and a key participant in professional activities.

A pattern, not a template to copy: the wording only works with your own facts behind it.

Where to check this

Other objections on this criterion

Reference information and community experience, not legal advice. The AAO figures are lessons from appeals, not approval odds; fees and timelines change - verify on uscis.gov.