U.S. Department of Elomeland Security 20 Mass. Ave., N.W., Rm. 3000 Washington, DC 20529-2090 MAIL STOP 2090 U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services PETITION: Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker as an Alien of Extraordinary Ability Pursuant to Section 203(b)(l)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 3 1153(b)(l)(A) ON BEHALF OF PETITIONER: INSTRUCTIONS: This is the decision of the Administrative Appeals Office in your case. All documents have been returned to the office that originally decided your case. Any further inquiry must be made to that office. V SJohn F. Grissom, Acting Chief Administrative Appeals Office DISCUSSION: The employment-based immigrant visa petition was denied by the Director, Texas Service Center. The petitioner filed an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO), which remanded the matter to the director for further action and consideration. The matter is now before the AAO upon certification of the director's subsequent, adverse decision. The decision of the director will be affirmed and the petition will be denied. The petitioner seeks classification as an employment-based immigrant pursuant to section 203(b)(l)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act), 8 U.S.C. 5 1153(b)(l)(A), as an alien of extraordinary ability in the arts. The director determined that the petitioner had not established the sustained national or international acclaim necessary to qualify for classification as an alien of extraordinary ability. On certification, counsel argues that the petitioner meets at least three of the regulatory criteria at 8 C.F.R. 5 204.5(h)(3) and has submitted other comparable evidence of his extraordinary ability pursuant to 8 C.F.R. $ 204.5(h)(4). Section 203(b) of the Act states, in pertinent part, that: (1) Priority workers. -- Visas shall first be made available . to qualified immigrants who are aliens described in any of the following subparagraphs (A) through (C): (A) Aliens with extraordinary ability. -- An alien is described in ths subparagraph if -- (i) the alien has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and whose achievements have been recognized in the field through extensive documentation, (ii) the alien seeks to enter the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability, and (iii) the alien's entry into the United States will substantially benefit prospectively the United States. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) and legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) have consistently recognized that Congress intended to set a very high standard for individuals seeking immigrant visas as aliens of extraordinary ability. See 56 Fed. Reg. 60897, 60898-99 (Nov. 29, 1991). As used in this section, the term "extraordinary ability" means a level of expertise indicating that the individual is one of that small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor. 8 C.F.R. $ 204.5(h)(2). The specific requirements for supporting documents to establish that an alien has sustained national or international acclaim and recognition in his or her field of expertise are set forth in the regulation at 8 C.F.R. 9 204.5(h)(3). The relevant criteria will be addressed below. It should be reiterated, however, that the petitioner must show that he has sustained national or international acclaim at the very top level. Page 3 This petition, filed on October 11, 2005, seeks to classify the petitioner as an alien with extraordinary ability as a drummer of Filipino jazz music. The statute and regulations require the petitioner's national or international acclaim as a musician to be sustained. See section 203(b)(l)(A)(i) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 6 1153(b)(l)(A)(i), and 8 C.F.R. 5 204.5(h)(3). According to the petitioner's Form 1-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, and his Form 1-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, his "Date of Last Arrival" in the United States was July 29, 1999. Although the petitioner has been residing in the United States since 1999, there is no evidence establishing that he has sustained national acclaim as a jazz drummer in this country. Further, there is no evidence showing that the petitioner's acclaim in the Philippines was sustained during the decade preceding the filing of this petition. The regulation at 8 C.F.R. 5 204.5(h)(3) indicates that an alien can establish sustained national or international acclaim through evidence of a one-time achievement (that is, a major, internationally recognized award). Barring the alien's receipt of such an award, the regulation outlines ten criteria, at least three of which must be satisfied for an alien to establish the sustained acclaim necessary to qualify as an alien of extraordinary ability. A petitioner, however, cannot establish eligibility for this classification merely by submitting evidence that simply relates to at least three criteria at 8 C.F.R. 9 204.5(h)(3). In determining whether the petitioner meets a specific criterion, the evidence itself must be evaluated in terms of whether it is indicative of or consistent with sustained national or international acclaim. A lower evidentiary standard would not be consistent with the regulatory definition of "extraordinary ability" as "a level of expertise indicating that the individual is one of that small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor." 8 C.F.R. fj 204.5(h)(2). The petitioner has submitted evidence pertaining to the following criteria. ' Documentation of the alien's membership in associations in the field for which classification is sought, which require outstanding achievements of their members, as judged by recognized national or international experts in their disciplines orfields. The petitioner submitted a July 19, 2005 letter from,Vice-President and Chairman, Asosasyon Ng Musikong Pilipino Foundation, Inc. (AMP), stating that the petitioner is "a bona fide member of the AMP in good standing." ~r.letter does not provide information regarding the AMP'S specific requirements for admission to membership. The petitioner also submitted a May 29, 2005 letter from , a bass player and member of the Filipino jazz group Affinity, stating: "In order to- be a member of Asosasyon Ng Musikong Pilipino Foundation, Inc., a person is required to have sustained outstanding achievements in the musical field as 'ud ed by recognized national experts in the musical field." There is no evidence showing that is an official representative of the AMP. As such, it is not apparent how : is qualified to provide information regarding the AMP'S membership requirements. There is no evidence (such as membership bylaws or official admission requirements) showing that the AMP requires outstanding- achievements of its members, as judged by recognized national or international experts in the petitioner's field or an allied one. In light of the above, the petitioner has not established that he meets this criterion. I The petitioner does not claim to meet or submit evidence relating to the criteria not discussed in this decision. Page 4 Published material about the alien in professional or major trade publications or other major nzedia, relating to the alien's work in the field for which classlJicatiorz is sought. Such evidence shall include the title, date, and author of the material, and any necessaly translation. In general, in order for published material to meet this criterion, it must be primarily about the petitioner and, as stated in the regulations, be printed in professional or major trade publications or other major media. To qualify as major media, the publication should have significant national or international distribution. An alien would not earn acclaim at the national or international level from a local publication. Some newspapers, such as the New York Times, nominally serve a particular locality but would qualify as major media because of significant national distribution, unlike small local community papers.2 The petitioner submitted a February 6, 2003 internet article posted at http:il\~ww.philn~usic.con~entitled "Adobo Jazz is Now Cooking." The article discusses ' launch of an independent music album project entitled "Adobo Jazz, Volume 1" and only mentions the petitioner's name in passing. The petitioner also submitted a July 17, 2004 internet article posted at http:/iwww.houstonculture.org entitled "Pinoy Rock Legends Rock Houston." The article discusses a dual concert given by guitarist and the pop music group Hotdog. Briefly mentioning the petitioner only once, the article states: "Backed by a trio of local players that included expatriated former Manila session-drummer [the petitioner], Mike took us on a ride down the streets of Pinoy rock history, streets he once ruled as he worked to define the genre in the 1970s.. ." Neither of the preceding articles is primarily about the petitioner. The plain language of this regulatory criterion, however, requires that the published material be "about the alien." Further, there is no evidence showing that the internet sites which posted the preceding articles qualify as major media. The petitioner submitted a document posted on the internet at http://www.geocities.com entitled "Manila's Pool of Session Musicians." The document lists the petitioner's name along with eleven other entries under the heading "Some of the Philippines top musicians who are now residing or making their living elsewhere." According to the "Index of Exhibits" submitted by the petitioner, the preceding document was "from website." The petitioner also submitted a December 6, 2004 letter of support from a identifying him as a "good friend of [the petitioner] for many years." The inclusion of the petitioner's entry in his friend's internet posting does not constitute published material about him in professional or major trade publications or some other form of major media.