For EB-1A, I am a member of an association and I also served as a judge. Can I count these as 2 different criteria?

Yes. Under EB-1A, membership in a selective association and service as a judge of others’ work are generally treated as distinct criteria, provided each is supported by its own independent evidence.

They are different in nature, and that is precisely what allows them to be counted separately:

• Membership: the weight comes from the fact that admission requires recognized merit, not merely payment of annual dues. Show the admission requirements and what your participation represents.
• Service as a judge: demonstrates that you are regarded as an authority capable of evaluating the work of peers. Document the invitations, the context, and what you reviewed.

The key concern is double-counting: the same activity cannot be used to satisfy two criteria at the same time. When the evidence is separate and well-documented, the two criteria complement and reinforce each other.

Because each petition is evaluated individually, it is worth checking the updated criteria and organizing your documentation 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.