Does winning a government contract bid count as an award for the EB-1?

In the EB-1, it is worth distinguishing between a contract, a bid, and an award, because they carry different weight. Winning a public procurement bid generally means being selected to provide a service through a competitive purchasing process, not receiving recognition for exceptional merit. For that reason, a contract bid is typically not treated as an award in this type of evaluation.

Awards relevant to the EB-1 tend to be distinctions conferred by prestigious organizations or institutions that recognize outstanding contributions in your field. A winning bid speaks more to commercial competence and reliability than to recognition within your professional community.

That does not make the achievement worthless. It can be presented as evidence of professional or business success under a different criterion, provided you demonstrate its scope and impact. Since each case is assessed individually, it is worth reviewing the current requirements on the official source (USCIS) or with a specialist to position this experience correctly.

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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.