Can a letter from a direct coworker count as a recommendation?

In the EB-2 NIW, recommendation letters help support the merit and relevance of your work. A letter from a direct coworker can, in fact, be used, as long as it provides an honest and concrete assessment of your contributions.

In practice, however, letters from external and independent experts tend to carry more weight. This is because someone who does not share your daily work environment is better positioned to offer an impartial view of the reach and impact of your work, something adjudicators value highly.

The strongest strategy is usually to combine both types:

• The close coworker details specific contributions they witnessed firsthand.
• The external expert confirms the relevance of your work to the field and the national interest.

Regardless of the source, each letter should be concrete: describing achievements, impact, and why your work stands out. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth reviewing the latest USCIS guidance and planning your letter package 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.