Does coordinating a research group of 20 members count as leadership in an EB-1B?

Coordinating a research group can indeed serve as evidence of leadership in an EB-1B petition, but it does not decide the case on its own. This category, designed for outstanding professors and researchers, evaluates the totality of evidence and, above all, the impact and recognition of your work.

The size of the group you coordinate matters less than what that coordination produced. The key point is to show that your leadership role generated meaningful and recognized results in your field, not merely that you held the position.

To give this type of evidence real weight, it usually helps to gather:

• Publications and citations demonstrating the reach of the group’s work.
• Recommendation letters from references who can confirm your influence.
• Concrete results, projects, or advances tied to your leadership.

Because the assessment is made on the totality of evidence and on a case-by-case basis, coordinating a team is an argument in your favor, not a guarantee. It is worth verifying the current criteria and evaluating your profile with 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.