Published Material About The Alien
I. PUBLISHED MATERIAL IN PROFESSIONAL OR MAJOR TRADE PUBLICATIONS OR MAJOR MEDIA ABOUT THE ALIEN AND RELATING TO THE ALIEN'S WORK
USCIS is looking for articles that highlight the person, or are indications of national acclaim. The publication must be a professional or major trade publication, or else a major media.
A. AAO’s Has Four Requirements
AAO states that a person must submit published materials meeting the following four major requirements.
1. The published materials must be primarily about the person
The first requirement is that, the published materials must be primarily about the person, and relating to the field for which the classification is sought. More specifically, the materials must mention the person by name and discuss topics that are related to the area for which the person is seeking extraordinary ability.
Published materials by the person, on him or herself, do not count. Also, the published materials cannot be discussions, or citations of the person’s work.
2. The published materials must be in professional publications, major trade publications, or other major media
The second requirement is that, the published materials must be in professional publications, major trade publications, or other major media. According to AAO, to qualify as major media, the publication should have significant national distribution and be published in a language that the majority of the population can understand.
Local publications, such as small local community papers or university magazines are not accepted as major media. Publications, such as New York Times, which have local names but a significant national distribution, are counted as major publications. In re Petitioner, (file number not released) (AAO).
In a successful case, a petitioner submitted translated articles from the People’s Daily, Guangzhou Daily, Shenzhen Daily, Wenhui Press, Xinmin Evening News, Shenzhen Evening News, and China Stamp Collection, along with independent evidence showing national distribution in China. In re Petitioner, (file number not released) (AAO).
In some cases, the AAO suggests that if the number of local publications were equivalent to a national distribution, then such articles are accepted. In re Petitioner, WAC-01-230-50932 (AAO).
3. A pattern of sustained national or international acclaim
The third requirement is that, there must be more than one article to show a pattern of sustained national or international acclaim. To be a person of extraordinary ability, USCIS requires enough articles to show a sustained national or international acclaim, and hence more than one piece of published material.
4. Publication information
The final requirement for published materials is that, each article must include the title, the date of the article, the name of the author, where the article was published, and the circulation of the article. If the article is not in English, then an accredited translation must be provided.
B. Conclusion
When submitting published materials for extraordinary ability, the person must demonstrate through the published materials that, he or she earned national or international acclaim for at least a period of time.