For EB-1B, I served as a member of a Q1 journal’s editorial board. Does that count as judging?

Yes. In the EB-1B category, serving on the editorial board of a high-caliber scientific journal can qualify under the criterion of acting as a judge of the work of others in the field, provided your role genuinely involved analyzing, evaluating, and making decisions on academic submissions from your peers.

The decisive factor is not the prestige of the journal itself, but what you actually did there. If your responsibilities included reviewing manuscripts, assessing their quality, and influencing publication decisions, that aligns with what the category understands as serving as a judge in your field.

To give this contribution meaningful weight, document it clearly:

• A letter or statement from the journal describing your role and responsibilities.
• Records of the evaluations you conducted, preserving appropriate confidentiality.
• Evidence of the publication’s standing and relevance in your field.

Keep in mind that each case is evaluated individually and that this is only one of the criteria for EB-1B. Build a body of consistent evidence and consider reviewing your strategy with a specialist before filing.

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.