I co-organized a design event. Does it count as a ‘leading role’?

Yes, having been a co-organizer of a design event can serve as evidence of a ‘leading role’ (or critical role) in an EB-1 petition, but not automatically. What matters is not the organizer title itself, but rather the demonstration that your contribution was significant to the event and to your field.

This type of evidence tends to be more persuasive when you show that you held real responsibility over decisions and outcomes, not just logistical support. It is worth gathering concrete proof, such as:

• Letters from recognized experts describing your role and its impact.
• Materials that document your responsibilities (programming, curation, team coordination, content direction).
• The event’s reach and influence within the field (coverage, audience, relevance to the design industry).

The goal is to build a consistent narrative connecting your function to the event’s success and your influence in the field. Since each case is assessed individually by the competent authority, it is worth verifying the current requirements and reviewing your profile 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.