Can I request recommendation letters from people who do not know me personally but know my work?

Yes, in the EB-2 NIW it is possible to request recommendation letters from people who do not know you personally, as long as they know your work in depth and can attest to its relevance and expertise. Such recommendations are common and legitimate, especially when your recognition comes from publications, conferences, or projects with international reach.

These letters are often called independent recommendations precisely because they come from experts who follow your work without a direct connection to you. Their value lies in the credibility of the source and the consistency of the testimony, not in personal closeness.

For a letter like this to truly carry weight, it must make clear:

• How that person came to know your work.
• Concrete examples of your contributions and their impact.
• Why, in their view, your work is relevant to the field.

Combining independent recommendations with letters from people who have worked closely with you tends to create a more balanced package. Since each case is evaluated individually by the USCIS, it is worth verifying the current requirements and aligning your letter strategy 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.