❌ EB-1A: denial
The author filed an EB-1A petition in September 2025, received an RFE, responded to it, but in January 2026 received a denial despite 4 criteria being credited.
Case parameters
Filing: September 2025
Decision: January 2026
Criteria claimed: 8
Criteria credited: 4
-
✓Published material about you
Credited
-
✓Judge of the work of others
Credited
-
✓Authorship of scholarly articles
Credited
-
✓High salary
Credited
-
✓Awards
Not credited
-
✓Memberships
Not credited
-
✓Original contributions of major significance
Not credited
-
✓Leading/critical role for distinguished organizations
Not credited
How it went
Hi everyone. I’ll briefly share my experience
Chronology
• In September 2025 we filed an EB1-A petition
• In September 2025 we received an RFE; 2 criteria were credited in it
• In December 2025 we submitted a response to the RFE
• In January 2026 we received a denial; 4 criteria were credited in it.
Credited criteria:
- Published material about you
- Judge of the work of others
- Authorship of scholarly articles
- High salary
Not credited criteria:
5. Awards
6. Memberships
7. Original contributions of major significance
8. Leading/critical role for distinguished organizations
P.S. Subjectively, I consider my case fairly strong, since I have various real accomplishments to boast about
Main insight
“The author believes his case is strong despite the denial, because he has real achievements.”
Alexander Fonarev (@afonarev)
September 2025
Filing a petition for EB1-A
September 2025
Receiving an RFE
December 2025
Response to RFE
January 2026
Receiving a denial
Author of the story
Alexander Fonarev (@afonarev), from the chat @talentvisahelp. Original message in the chat.
Helpful resources
All information about O-1 / EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
More success and denial stories: channel @o1eb1