An international congress in the US awarded me ‘Best Paper’. Does it count for the EB-2 NIW?

Yes, a ‘Best Paper’ award received at an international congress in the United States can work in your favor for the EB-2 NIW. It serves as evidence of peer recognition, helping to demonstrate that your work has quality and relevance in your field.

The EB-2 NIW is designed for professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability who can show that their work has merit and importance for the national interest. Awards and distinctions strengthen that argument, especially when you contextualize the weight of the recognition, such as the prestige of the congress and the reach of the awarded work.

Even so, no single award guarantees approval. The petition is evaluated based on the totality of evidence, so the ideal approach is to present the award alongside elements such as:

• Publications and citations of your work by third parties.
• Concrete impact of your contributions in your field.
• Letters from experts confirming your relevance.

Since each case is analyzed individually, it is worth verifying the updated requirements with USCIS and aligning the presentation of your dossier with a specialist.

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.