Does co-authoring with supervisors diminish my merit?

Co-authoring with supervisors does not diminish your merit in an EB-2 NIW petition, as long as your individual contribution to the work is clearly established. Collaboration is the norm in research and most technical fields, and USCIS understands this reality: what it evaluates is the strength and independence of your contributions, not the fact that you have co-authors.

The key, therefore, is to make your specific role within each publication visible. When that is well-documented, co-authorship with recognized names can actually work in your favor, demonstrating that you move in relevant networks and collaborate with influential professionals.

• Recommendation letters that concretely describe what you did in each project.
• Descriptions of your role in the research (conception, methodology, analysis, writing).
• Evidence of the impact of the work and of your contributions in a distinguished capacity.

Rather than avoiding co-authorships, invest in making your individual achievements within them clear. Since every case is unique, it is worth reviewing the updated guidance at the official source (USCIS) and carefully planning how to present your track record, avoiding services that promise guaranteed outcomes.

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.