Are generic praise letters (‘He is a great professional’) any good?

Generic praise letters of the type ‘he is a great professional’ tend to add little value to an EB-2 NIW petition. They are not prohibited, but they say almost nothing that a reviewer can use to assess the relevance of your work.

What makes a letter effective is specificity. Instead of loose adjectives, a recommendation is convincing when it describes concrete situations and presents the author as someone with the authority to evaluate you. A strong letter typically includes:

• Specific projects you worked on and the role you played.
• Results and contributions attributable to your work.
• Why those contributions matter to your field.
• Who the author is and why their opinion carries weight.

Letters like these fit better into the overall body of evidence and reinforce the idea that your work has merit and impact. Keep in mind that recommendation letters are supporting evidence and do not replace objective proof such as publications, awards, or records of results.

Since each case is evaluated individually, verify the current requirements with USCIS and, if possible, have the letters reviewed by 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.