My awards went to my company, not to me personally. Can I still claim EB-1A?

As a general rule, awards granted to your company rather than to you as an individual are not typically accepted as personal evidence for EB-1A. This category is designed for those who demonstrate extraordinary ability on an individual basis, and one of the standard criteria is specifically having received awards or honors tied to your own name.

That does not mean the company’s achievement is irrelevant, but the focus of the analysis is the recognition of your merit. If you played a decisive role in the awarded outcome, it may be possible to use that in your favor, provided it is well documented. A few approaches can help:

• Testimonials and letters describing your individual contribution to the achievement.
• Records that directly link your work to the award.
• Other personal evidence of distinction (publications, leadership roles, press coverage).

Even so, the best position is to gather awards and distinctions that clearly highlight your personal accomplishments. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth checking the updated requirements at the official source (USCIS) or 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.