Fulbright Winner Loses Legal Challenge to Green Card Denial

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services properly denied an employment-based green card to a Russian citizen who won a Fulbright award, a federal judge in California ruled, because the applicant didn’t show he met the highly restrictive criteria for the visa.

The applicant, Sergey Donskoy, had sought a first-preference EB-1 visa reserved for immigrants who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics. Donskoy challenged the agency’s denial of a green card under the Administrative Procedures Act, arguing it had erred in requiring he demonstrate further individual acclaim despite winning a Fulbright award and contributions to ...