I had a media scandal about my personal life. Does that count as ‘media coverage’ for the EB-1?

Under the EB-1 for extraordinary ability, press coverage can be evidence, but what matters is whether it demonstrates recognition of your work in your field. An article about your personal life, even if it generated significant buzz, tends not to serve that purpose because it does not speak to your professional contributions.

It is technically ‘media coverage’, but the criterion does not simply look at whether you appeared in the press. Coverage tied to a personal scandal generally adds no value to a case and, in some scenarios, may even raise questions. The kind of coverage that helps is coverage that highlights your work, your results, and your relevance in the field.

When evaluating press coverage, reviewers typically consider:

• Whether the article addresses your work, not personal matters.
• The reach and credibility of the outlet.
• Whether there is a body of coverage about your contributions to the field.

Each case is assessed individually and on the totality of evidence. To understand what qualifies as media evidence, it is worth checking the updated requirements on the USCIS website and reviewing your materials 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.