Do awards from online competitions (e.g., online hackathons) count?

Yes, they can. For the EB-1, awards earned in online competitions such as hackathons are not dismissed simply because they are digital. What matters is the weight of the recognition: how relevant and competitive the event is, and what the award actually represents in your field.

An award gains strength when you can demonstrate the prestige of the competition, how the selection process worked, and why that result signals above-average merit. Without that context, an online trophy on its own tends to say very little.

To make the most of this type of evidence, it helps to gather:

• Information about the competition, the organizers, and the level of participants.
• The judging criteria and how winners were selected.
• Other proof of excellence that reinforces the same track record.

In short, hackathon awards can be part of a strong argument, but as one piece of a broader package. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth checking the current guidelines 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.