Under EB-1A criteria, can I use ‘membership in an association’ and ‘judge’ at the same time?

Yes. Under EB-1A, there is no obstacle to claiming both the membership in an association criterion and the judge criterion (serving as a reviewer) simultaneously. They are distinct criteria and can count together toward the total required by the category.

The important detail is that each one must be established independently, with its own body of evidence. Simply mentioning both is not enough: each criterion must stand on its own under scrutiny.

In practice, this typically means demonstrating, separately:

• That the association requires outstanding achievement for admission and holds a recognized standing in the field.
• That your service as a reviewer was genuine and sought out by relevant institutions or events.

When well documented, both criteria strengthen the overall picture of your case. Because the evaluation is based on objective evidence, it is worth confirming the current requirements with USCIS or with a specialist when assembling 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.