A senior director at CCTV (China Central Television) who was conferred a military rank after winning an award for a documentary about naval warships. When he first applied for an EB-1A green card in 2016, he was refused at the visa interview because of his military-region background and organizational membership, and his appeal was also unsuccessful.

A military-region background and past organizational membership are sensitive points in immigration review and directly affect the applicant's credibility determination. The earlier refusal and failed appeal also remained on record in the system.

We changed course and had him first apply for an O-1 visa to build up his record and reduce the risk of traveling back and forth. During the O-1 visa interview process, we gradually clarified the historical records in the system about his military-region background. Only then did we resume the EB-1A and complete adjustment of status (I-485) inside the United States.

The whole family obtained green cards.