❌ other: denial
A visa denial story for a makeup artist after receiving an RFE and submitting additional evidence.
Case details
Filing: January 20, 2026
Decision: March 26, 2026
Attorney: Viktoria Ledeneva
Criteria claimed: 8
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✓International awards
Awards
-
✓Judging competitions and championships
Judge of others
-
✓Media publications about you
Media
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✓Membership in professional associations
Memberships
-
✓Original contribution to the industry
Original contributions
-
✓Authorship of scholarly publications
Scholarly articles
-
✓Leading role in notable projects
Leading role
-
✓Commercial success / recognition
Commercial success / acclaim
How it all happened
Hello. Today I received a denial. I haven’t seen the text yet — and it doesn’t really make much sense.
I filed the case as a makeup artist, attorney Viktoria Ledeneva. Premium.
On January 20, 2026 the case was accepted; on February 4 an RFE arrived. On March 12 the response to the RFE was accepted. Today, March 26, a denial was issued.
We claimed 8 criteria:
International awards (Awards)
Judging competitions and championships (Judge of others)
Media publications about you (Media)
Membership in professional associations (Memberships)
Original contribution to the industry (Original contributions)
Authorship of scholarly publications (Scholarly articles)
Leading role in notable projects (Leading role)
Commercial success / recognition (Commercial success / acclaim)
Officer number XM2108
The RFE was not about the criteria, but about two things:
- It was necessary to prove that you will continue to work in the US in your field
- It was necessary to prove that your activities will benefit the US
That is, USCIS acknowledged that at least three criteria were met, but requested additional evidence regarding future plans and benefit to the US.
In the response to the RFE:
- They provided a strong section on continued work in the US:
• contract and the position of Global Artistic Director
• confirmed collaborations (brands, fashion weeks, productions)
• judging (UBA, Film Festival)
• media and editorial projects - They showed that these are not plans but actual agreements (LOIs, agreements, letters)
- They outlined the benefit for the US:
• impact on the industry ($100+ billion market)
• workforce development (Beauty System)
• raising standards, training, business effect - Added my Personal Statement with a clear plan to work in the US
And a denial — I just refreshed, saw it, and was terribly upset. More than 1.5 years were spent collecting and preparing evidence. I won’t write about the money; it’s obvious.
That’s about it.
I don’t know what to do next. To be honest, I don’t have the energy to refile, nor the desire. All optimism is gone
Main insight
“Despite meeting at least three criteria, a denial was issued due to insufficient evidence of future work and benefit to the US.”
Dana (@dana_l_t)
January 20, 2026
Case accepted
February 4, 2026
RFE received
March 12, 2026
RFE response accepted
March 26, 2026
Denial received
Story author
Dana (@dana_l_t), from the chat @talentvisahelp. Original message in the chat.
Useful resources
All information about O-1 / EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
More success stories and denials: channel @o1eb1