Does it matter if diplomas are submitted on letterhead or laminated?

When documenting an EB-2 NIW petition, how you present diplomas and certificates matters because they help establish your qualifications. The general recommendation is to prioritize documents on official institutional letterhead, since the official header reinforces authenticity.

As for lamination, the guidance runs in the opposite direction: it is generally discouraged. The plastic layer can interfere with the verification of seals, signatures, and other security features on the original document, raising doubts rather than building confidence.

In practice, the safest approach tends to be:

• Use original documents or faithful copies on institutional letterhead.
• Submit clear, uncut scans with no alterations.
• Keep seals, signatures, and stamps fully legible.

Because each case may have its own particulars, it is worth following the official USCIS instructions on document format and copies and, when in doubt, reviewing your presentation with a specialist before submitting.

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.