Testimonials from a former academic supervisor who won international awards. Are they useful?

Yes, testimonials from an award-winning former academic supervisor can add value to an EB-1 petition, because they help reinforce the credibility of your achievements and the relevance of your work. The strength of this type of letter, however, does not come from the prestige of the signatory, but from what it is able to demonstrate about you.

In the EB-1, letters and testimonials tend to work best when they are part of a larger body of evidence and align with the rest of the file. A useful testimonial tends to:

• Describe specific contributions and moments, not just generic praise.
• Explain why your work stands out and what impact it had in the field.
• Be consistent with the other evidence, such as publications, recognitions, and participation in relevant projects or events.

In short, a strong testimonial is a valuable component, but it does not sustain the petition on its own. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth checking the updated requirements and organizing your evidence with the support of 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.