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Can they deny it for suspecting that my position is ‘fake’?
Authorities may deny the EB-1 visa if they suspect the position is fake; clear documents and expert guidance are essential to ensure the legitimacy of the process.
Read full answer →Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about EB-1
Straight answers to the most common questions about the EB-1 visa.
I was awarded an honorable mention at the national festival. Is that the same as winning the festival?
Honorable mention indicates recognition but does not equal winning the festival. For EB-1 visas, it is crucial to demonstrate excellence with additional documents and professional guidance.
Read full answer →Do I need to have an extremely high salary?
In the EB-1 category, professional recognition and achievement are more important than a high salary to prove extraordinary abilities.
Read full answer →If I receive highlights in several academic journals, can I group them under a single criterion or separate them?
For the EB-1 visa, highlights in academic journals can be grouped or separated depending on their nature, ensuring organization and impact in proving recognition.
Read full answer →My research was cited in World Bank reports. Is that a highlight?
The citation of your research by the World Bank is a relevant highlight for the EB-1 visa, but success depends on a broad and solid set of evidence and compliance with legal regulations.
Read full answer →Does USCIS reject if awards are bought?
USCIS may deny EB-1 visas if the awards presented are bought or not genuine, compromising the candidate's credibility.
Read full answer →How to cite articles in foreign languages?
Correctly citing articles in foreign languages is essential for immigration processes like the EB-1, ensuring authenticity and clarity for the American authorities.
Read full answer →Is a recommendation letter with notarized signature acceptable?
Letters with notarized signatures are accepted for the EB-1 visa, as long as they clearly demonstrate the qualities and achievements required by USCIS.
Read full answer →Create an app that reached 1 million downloads. Is it ‘commercial success’?
An app with 1 million downloads indicates commercial success, but the EB-1 visa requires more evidence proving impact, recognition, and innovation in the field.
Read full answer →Are there limits to how many recommendation letters I can send?
There is no limit to recommendation letters for the EB-1 visa, but their quality, relevance, and authority are essential to strengthen your process.
Read full answer →Can I cite ‘local TV interviews’ repeatedly as 4 or 5 pieces of evidence?
Local TV interviews can be evidence for the EB-1 visa, but they must be varied and complemented by other evidence to meet USCIS criteria.
Read full answer →How to cite participation in pitch contests for startups?
For the EB-1 visa, cite participation in pitch contests in detail, attach evidence, and keep organized records, ensuring solid proof of your professional merit.
Read full answer →How does USCIS verify the authenticity of awards?
USCIS rigorously verifies the authenticity of awards for the EB-1 visa, requiring reliable documentation and adherence to US immigration laws.
Read full answer →My managerial position abroad was without personnel supervision, but I decide policies. Is it a ‘function manager’?
Managerial functions in the EB-1 do not require direct supervision if you exercise significant and decisive strategic influence over organizational policies and guidelines.
Read full answer →Is it acceptable to separate ‘main roles at different organizations’ in order to count them as two?
Main roles at distinct organizations can be counted separately if their unique responsibilities and impacts are proven, with rigorous documentation and specialized advice.
Read full answer →Is publishing the company’s own press releases considered proof of media?
Company's own press releases rarely prove independent media for EB-1 visas; prioritize reliable publications and comply with U.S. immigration laws.
Read full answer →List bank sponsorships for my project. Does ‘commercial success’ count?
Bank sponsorships can prove 'commercial success' for EB-1, provided they are integrated with other clear, organized evidence aligned with the visa's rigorous criteria.
Read full answer →I have an association with restricted membership. How do I explain that it is selective?
Associate your participation with rigorous admission criteria to prove your excellence in the US EB-1 category, always following official and ethical guidelines.
Read full answer →Informal letters ‘he is great’ without details. Do they count for anything?
Generic letters without details do not prove excellence for the EB-1 visa; robust evidence and specialized guidance are recommended.
Read full answer →I have 3 patents, but they have not been commercially exploited. Does that count?
Non-commercialized patents can contribute to the EB-1, but it is essential to present additional evidence proving the relevance and recognition of the innovations.
Read full answer →Is it possible to cite the Google Scholar ranking (e.g., top 1% in the field)?
Citing the Google Scholar ranking can strengthen your EB-1 petition but should be integrated with other evidence proving your excellence and professional impact.
Read full answer →How to gather letters from senior executives if I am an academic researcher?
Academic researchers can strengthen the EB-1 with letters from influential leaders, evidencing the impact and relevance of their research contributions.
Read full answer →Can regional awards count as ‘national’ awards?
Regional awards can eventually be considered for the EB-1 visa if they demonstrate national impact and prestige, but the evaluation is individual and requires solid documentation.
Read full answer →I climbed the global e-sports ranking. What is the criterion?
Climbing the global e-sports ranking may indicate extraordinary ability for the EB-1 visa, but it requires robust evidence and proven recognition.
Read full answer →I am a comic book artist and sold 100 thousand copies. Is that ‘commercial success’?
Selling 100 thousand copies as a comic book artist indicates relevant commercial success for the EB-1 visa, but it is important to present broad and reliable documentation.
Read full answer →I have been featured locally on 5 small broadcasters, but nothing national. Does that count for anything?
Local highlights help, but EB-1 requires broader recognition. Prove it through awards, national publications, and follow official guidelines to strengthen your petition.
Read full answer →Judge in hackathon and reviewer of 1 conference. Are these enough to be a ‘judge’?
Serving as a judge in a hackathon and as a reviewer at a conference are relevant, but generally insufficient to prove excellence as a 'judge' under the EB-1 visa, which requires consistent recognition.
Read full answer →Voluntary work as a journal reviewer. Does it still count as judge?
Voluntary work as a journal reviewer can be considered as judge activity under EB-1, provided that relevance and documentation are proven.
Read full answer →Does a trophy given by a regional business association count as a ‘major prize’?
Regional awards, although valued, are generally not 'major prize' for the EB-1 visa without evidence of national or international recognition and proven competitiveness.
Read full answer →Does appearing on lists such as ‘Forbes 30 Under 30’ meet the award criteria?
Lists such as Forbes 30 Under 30 can count as awards for the EB-1 if they represent prestigious recognition and proven impact in the field of expertise.
Read full answer →Do I have 10 regional awards? Does that count as 10 pieces of evidence?
Regional awards may count as evidence in the EB‑1 process, but their relevance, recognition, and weight are carefully evaluated by USCIS to prove extraordinary abilities.
Read full answer →I want to mention a sales leader. Can USCIS request sales spreadsheets?
USCIS can request sales spreadsheets to prove leadership and results for the EB-1 visa; keep documentation organized and backed by reliable sources.
Read full answer →I-485 or Consular, which is faster?
I-485 and consular processing are distinct paths to the Green Card; the speed depends on the case, location, and documents, requiring careful monitoring and reliable information.
Read full answer →Reviewer for a Q3 journal for 4 years. Does it count?
Experience as a reviewer for a Q3 journal can contribute to the EB-1 visa, provided it is evaluated alongside the professional background and evidence that prove merit and recognition.
Read full answer →Is there a time limit to use old awards?
Old awards can be used in the EB-1 visa if they remain relevant and the applicant has a consistent trajectory, with individual evaluation and clear evidence.
Read full answer →I don’t have publications, but I gave lectures at national events. Can that be equivalent?
Lectures at national events can compensate for the absence of publications for the EB-1 visa, provided they demonstrate recognition and relevance in the field.
Read full answer →Generic letters (‘He is an exemplary professional’) without concrete data?
Generic recommendation letters have little value in the EB-1; concrete evidence of achievements is essential to strengthen your application and ensure a solid evaluation.
Read full answer →My YouTube channel generates $200K/year. How does this compare with the average creator?
Annual YouTube revenue of US$200 thousand is an indicator of success, but the EB-1 visa also evaluates impact, awards, and relevance, not just financial earnings.
Read full answer →Is it common to be called for a ‘Stokes Interview’ like in marriage cases?
A 'Stokes Interview' occurs in cases of suspected marital fraud and is not part of the standard EB-1 visa process, which evaluates extraordinary abilities and professional achievements.
Read full answer →Did I have a CrossFit world champion as a student? Does he credit me?
Having a CrossFit world champion as a student can strengthen your EB-1 visa case, provided there is solid proof of the impact of your work.
Read full answer →Sending and adding evidence after submission, without RFE. Does USCIS accept it?
Submitting evidence after submission, without an RFE, is generally not accepted by USCIS, which evaluates only the documents initially presented in the EB-1 process.
Read full answer →I received awards from online forums. Are they reliable?
Awards from online forums should be evaluated for credibility and relevance to prove extraordinary achievements in the EB-1 visa process.
Read full answer →Is there a denial if I submit confusing evidence without an index?
Submitting confusing evidence or without an index can harm your EB-1 application. Clearly organize your documents to increase the chances of approval.
Read full answer →At final merits, is evidence of a ‘small percentage at the top of the field’ required?
For the EB-1 visa, there is no legal requirement for an exact percentage at the top, but evidence of recognition and distinction in the field strengthens the process, always with specialized guidance.
Read full answer →Can USCIS doubt the truthfulness of the letters?
USCIS rigorously reviews EB-1 visa recommendation letters to ensure their authenticity, validity, and alignment with the applicant's actual achievements.
Read full answer →Do I need to prove the absence of qualified Americans (job market test)?
For the EB-1 visa, it is not necessary to prove the absence of qualified American workers, as it is intended for professionals with extraordinary abilities and recognition in the field.
Read full answer →Did I receive excellence awards from my company, do they count as ‘major prizes’?
Internal company awards are generally not considered 'major prizes' for the EB-1, which seeks national or international recognition by renowned institutions.
Read full answer →List that I have performed shows in X, Y, Z cities. Does this count as an exhibition of my work?
Listing shows in multiple cities can prove your professional activity and recognition for the EB-1 visa, as long as supported by documents that demonstrate impact and prominence.
Read full answer →I have an association with a royal academy, but they did not check my merit in depth. Is it valid?
For the EB-1 category, it is essential to demonstrate solid international recognition; associations without rigorous evaluation may be questioned by USCIS.
Read full answer →Graduate student conferences where I served as a judge. Does it count?
Serving as a judge at graduate student conferences can prove your recognition for the EB-1, provided that your participation and the event are properly evidenced and documented.
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