Does publishing e-books on Amazon KDP with 5 thousand downloads count toward the EB-1?

Publishing e-books on platforms like Amazon KDP can be included as evidence in an EB-1 petition, but reaching a high download count alone does not guarantee anything. Reviewers focus less on the numbers and more on the relevance, quality, and real impact of the work within your field.

The EB-1 is designed for professionals with extraordinary ability who are recognized in their field. For a publication to strengthen a petition, it must demonstrate concrete influence or recognition by experts, not merely broad public acceptance.

Some elements that reinforce this type of evidence:

• Reviews or critiques in specialized outlets.
• Citations and references by other professionals in the field.
• Invitations to panels, lectures, or events related to the subject matter.

In practice, a publication typically serves as one item within a larger body of evidence, alongside awards, committee participation, articles, and other contributions. Petitions are evaluated holistically and on a case-by-case basis, so it is worth checking the updated requirements on the USCIS website and reviewing your file with 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.