I’m a researcher and won a ‘best poster’ at a local conference. Does that count as a ‘major prize’?

Probably not as a ‘major prize’. In EB-1 extraordinary ability, the awards that carry the most weight are those with broad relevance and wide recognition, competed for by leading professionals in the field. A ‘best poster’ at a local conference rarely sustains that standard on its own.

That does not mean the award is irrelevant. It helps build your overall profile and shows peer recognition, but it typically functions as supporting evidence rather than the standout prize this category expects. What sets strong recognition apart is its reach, prestige, and the level of competition involved.

To strengthen a petition, the most effective approach is to assemble a robust set of evidence that, taken together, demonstrates your distinction, for example:

• publications in prestigious venues and citations of your work by other researchers;
• invitations to judge, review, or speak at reference events;
• original contributions with recognized impact in your field.

Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth mapping your full profile and confirming the current requirements with USCIS or a qualified 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.