How do I cite a recommendation from a company director who has retired?

A director’s retirement does not invalidate their recommendation in the EB-2 NIW process. What gives a letter its weight is the authority the person held to evaluate your work at the time the relevant events took place, and that authority does not disappear after they leave their position.

The key is to make the context clear. In the recommender’s identification, indicate the position they held at the time, for example former director or retired director of the company, followed by a brief explanation of the period and the responsibilities they had back then.

A few considerations help strengthen the letter’s consistency:

• Establish the period during which the recommender was active and first became familiar with your work.
• Explain the professional relationship between you and how they followed your results.
• Provide concrete examples of the impact of your contributions during that time.

This makes it clear that the opinion is grounded in direct experience, not merely in the recommender’s current reputation. Since each case is reviewed individually, it is worth working with an immigration professional to structure your documentation and keep everything aligned with official requirements.

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.