Can I use ONE letter to cover 2 criteria (‘leading’ and ‘original’)? Is it accepted?

It may be accepted, but it is generally not the safest approach. In the EB-1, each evidentiary criterion must be clearly established, and a single letter that tries to cover two at once risks treating each point only superficially.

There is nothing that prevents a letter from mentioning both your leadership role (‘leading’) and your original contributions (‘original contributions’). The problem arises when the analysis cannot identify, separately and in depth, the proof for each criterion.

Whenever possible, it is worth separating the evidence:

• One letter or document that specifically details the leadership role.
• Another piece that addresses the original contributions and their impact.
• In each one, activities, achievements, and relevance should be well described.

This keeps the narrative organized and makes it easier for the reviewing officer to follow. Since each case is assessed individually, it is worth checking the updated USCIS guidance and building the documentation with the support of a specialist before filing.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.