In EB-1A, if I cite 3 different municipal awards, do they count together as a single ‘awards’ criterion?

Generally, yes. In the EB-1A, green card for extraordinary ability, awards of a similar nature tend to be evaluated together within a single criterion rather than as separate criteria. Three municipal distinctions, for example, will rarely count as three separate criteria: they reinforce a single awards criterion.

The logic is qualitative, not arithmetic. What USCIS weighs is not how many awards you list, but the prestige and reach of the recognition. Several local awards combined do not automatically equal a distinction of national or international scope; they help demonstrate consistency, but within the same category.

For that reason, the stronger approach is to diversify the types of evidence, covering different dimensions of your recognition, for example:

• Awards and honors relevant to your field;
• Publications and evidence of the impact of your work;
• Participation as a judge or evaluator of others’ work;
• Specialized media coverage and a leadership role in prominent organizations.

Because the analysis is done on a case-by-case basis, it is worth building your evidence strategy with a specialist and reviewing the updated criteria at the official source (USCIS) before filing.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.