What if the officer does not accept my award as ‘major’?

If the officer does not recognize your award as a ‘major award’, that does not automatically end your EB-1 case. The analysis is done on a case-by-case basis and considers the totality of the evidence, so a single item rarely decides the petition on its own.

When an award is not accepted as sufficient, it is often due to a lack of context or supporting evidence for its relevance. It helps to detail the reputation of the granting organization, the selection criteria, the competitiveness, and the impact of the award in your field. This framing helps the officer understand the true weight of the achievement.

Beyond that, the safest approach is not to rely on a single award alone. Strengthening the petition with additional evidence tends to offset potentially more restrictive interpretations.

• A single award rarely sustains the case on its own.
• Detail the prestige, criteria, and impact of the award.
• Add publications, qualified media coverage, and expert letters.

Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth reviewing the updated criteria on the official source (USCIS) and organizing your documentation 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.