I have 2 regional awards, but one of them is well known in my country. Does it count as national?

It can count, depending on how you document it. In EB-1, the weight of an award does not come from the regional or national label, but from the recognition and selectivity you are able to demonstrate. A highly prestigious regional award that is widely known throughout your country can indeed be presented as recognition with national reach.

What matters is the context of the award. Reviewers look at the importance of the prize, the rigor of the selection process, and how widely it is recognized beyond the local circle. For this reason, documentation is decisive:

• Details of the selection process and its criteria.
• Evidence of the award’s prestige and reach within the country.
• Media coverage, analyses, or testimonials that attest to its value.

Having two awards helps, but the quality of your supporting evidence carries more weight than the quantity. Since each case is assessed individually by the authorities, it is worth verifying the current criteria and organizing your evidence with a specialist before filing your petition.

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.