Do awards need to be recent for the EB-1?

In the EB-1, there is no rule requiring awards to be recent. What the category evaluates is the strength of the recognition they represent, and a prestigious award still says a great deal about your trajectory, even if it was earned some time ago.

That said, it helps to show that this recognition has not remained frozen in the past. An older award carries even more weight when accompanied by signs that your influence in the field remains active.

Some ways to reinforce that continuity:

• More recent publications, talks, or projects that connect back to the award.
• Citations and mentions demonstrating that your work continues to serve as a reference.
• A narrative that links the past achievement to the impact it still generates today.

Since each case is evaluated individually by the competent authority, the ideal approach is to build a coherent portfolio and, if needed, confirm updated requirements with a specialist before filing.

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.