Can a hackathon participation certificate count as an award?

On its own, a participation certificate from a hackathon rarely meets the awards criterion for EB-1, which typically favors honors granted by organizations with broad recognition in the field. Participating demonstrates initiative and technical ability, but participation is not the same as a distinguished award.

That does not mean the certificate is useless. It can be included as supporting evidence, helping to round out the picture of your contributions, especially when tied to concrete outcomes or third-party recognition.

• It carries more weight if the hackathon result had real-world impact or adoption.
• It gains strength alongside awards, publications, or support from relevant organizations.
• On its own, it tends to be a secondary item within the overall body of evidence.

Because the weight of each piece of evidence depends on context, it is worth building a diverse portfolio and verifying updated criteria with USCIS or a qualified specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.