EB-1A · Extraordinary Ability · Profession Guide
EB-1A for Mathematicians and statisticians: Kazarian Criteria & AAO Patterns
How mathematicians and statisticians satisfy the Kazarian two-step analysis: which of the ten regulatory criteria are most accessible for this profession, and what final-merits evidence has cleared AAO scrutiny.
Based on 6,362 real USCIS AAO decisions · Last updated May 2026
Short answer
EB-1A requires mathematicians and statisticians to meet at least 3 of the 10 Kazarian regulatory criteria and then clear a final-merits analysis that the petitioner has sustained national or international acclaim. EB-1A denials commonly cite strong publication output without sustained-acclaim markers (fellowships, prize-committee service, editorial board service).
Most accessible Kazarian criteria for mathematicians and statisticians
The regulation requires that you meet at least 3 of 10 criteria from 8 CFR § 204.5(h)(3). Below are the criteria most commonly satisfied in EB-1A petitions by mathematicians and statisticians, with profession-specific evidence patterns.
- 1
Original contributions of major significance
Named theorems / results, novel statistical methodologies adopted by the field, or cryptographic primitives selected for NIST PQC / FIPS standardization.
- 2
Authorship of scholarly articles
Refereed publications in Annals of Math, JAMS, Inventiones, Annals of Statistics, JASA — with independent citation evidence.
- 3
Service as a judge of others' work
Editorial-board membership, AMS / IMS / ASA grant-review or prize-committee service, journal peer review.
- 4
Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement
AMS Fellow, IMS Fellow, ASA Fellow, or election to NAS / NAE.
Final-merits framing under Kazarian step 2
Math / stats EB-1A final merits typically rewards petitioners whose work the field has recognized through fellowships, prize committees, or named results. Strong publication output without these acclaim markers often falls short.
Why EB-1A petitions by mathematicians and statisticians fail at AAO
EB-1A denials commonly cite strong publication output without sustained-acclaim markers (fellowships, prize-committee service, editorial board service). Adding any of these closes most gaps.
For context: across all professions, 5.9% of NIW appeals are approved at the AAO level. EB-1A appeals follow similar dynamics — most denials are at first-pass USCIS, and AAO data reveals which arguments fail at the highest scrutiny level.
Build your EB-1A petition with profession-specific framing
Our $99 EB-1A Petition Builder generates a Kazarian-framework petition letter section by section, with criterion-by-criterion evidence framing tailored to your profile and references to similar approved AAO cases in our 6,362-decision corpus.
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