I received awards during my college years 10 years ago. Are they still relevant?

Yes, awards you received in college 10 years ago can still be relevant in an EB-2 NIW case, especially if they helped establish your credibility and recognition in your area of specialization. An older recognition does not automatically lose its value: it stands as a milestone in the development of your professional trajectory.

The key is framing. Student awards work best as part of a timeline that shows evolution, rather than as the central argument of an already mature profile. Connecting them to more recent achievements makes them stronger:

• Use older awards to demonstrate a consistent history of recognition in your field.
• Pair them with current publications, projects, and experiences that confirm your relevance today.
• Show continuity: how that early recognition led to sustained contributions over time.

A college award can work in favor of your narrative, provided your recent work supports your current merit. Because the evaluation is holistic and each case is unique, it is worth reviewing updated guidance from the official source (USCIS) and organizing your evidence with specialized support, without expecting 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.