I received several small research grants – does that add up?

With an EB-2 NIW petition, several small research grants can add up in your favor. Each grant acts as a signal that your work has been recognized by institutions in your field, helping to build the picture of merit that this pathway values.

The key point is that the evaluation does not come down to counting how many grants you received. What truly carries weight is the quality, relevance, and impact of each grant within your career trajectory and your field.

Grants tend to be more persuasive when they appear alongside other evidence, such as:

• Publications, citations, or awards related to your work.
• Recommendation letters from experts in your field.
• Documents showing how the research contributed to knowledge or to the sector.

Presenting everything in an organized way helps demonstrate your value to the national interest of the United States. Because each case is evaluated individually, it is worth checking the current criteria at the official source (USCIS) or 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.