Do letters that say ‘he is very good’ without details help in the EB-1?

Not much. In the EB-1, a recommendation letter that simply states ‘he is very good’ without any supporting basis will rarely carry the necessary weight. What persuades is not the praise itself, but the concrete evidence behind it: what you did, how you did it, and why it mattered.

The extraordinary ability category expects letters that describe specific achievements and demonstrate, with examples, how your work stands apart from that of other professionals in the field. A generic recommendation takes up space in the file without strengthening the argument and can even undermine the credibility of the overall package.

• Favor letters that cite projects, results, and your role in them.
• Choose authors who know your work closely and can describe it in detail.
• Use examples that highlight your impact rather than loose adjectives.

In short, one detailed, well-structured letter is worth far more than several vague ones. When putting together this material, check the updated guidelines from USCIS or consult a 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.