Do I need citizenship in the same country where I received an award?

No. Under the EB-1, there is no requirement that you be a citizen of the country that granted an award for it to count as evidence. What the authority evaluates is the weight of the recognition within your field, not your nationality relative to who conferred the honor.

The EB-1 is designed for those who demonstrate extraordinary ability, and awards and honors serve as one of the forms of evidence of that distinction. An award gains strength when it is internationally recognized or reflects a well-established reputation within your field, regardless of where and by whom it was granted.

• What matters is the prestige and relevance of the award in your area.
• Citizenship in the issuing country is not a requirement for the award to count.
• Each piece of evidence is analyzed individually, within the overall context of the case.

Since each case has its own particularities, it is worth gathering solid documentation that contextualizes the importance of each recognition and verifying the current criteria with USCIS or 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.