If my articles are co-authored, how do I prove my individual contribution in the EB-2 NIW?

With co-authored articles, the challenge in the EB-2 NIW is demonstrating your individual contribution without diminishing the collaboration with the other authors. The review focuses on your personal weight in the work, so the goal is to make that role visible and well-documented.

It helps to gather evidence that points clearly to what was yours at each stage, from conception to writing. Some materials that can support your case:

• Detailed descriptions of the portions you conceived, executed, or wrote.
• Letters from co-authors, supervisors, or colleagues attesting to your specific responsibilities.
• Records of a previously agreed task division among the authors.
• Indicators of the work’s impact, such as citations and conference presentations.

What matters most is that the documentation is concrete and verifiable, integrating this evidence into the rest of your merit dossier. Vague or inflated claims weaken credibility, which is critical in this type of evaluation.

Since each case is assessed individually, it is worth reviewing the current guidance from USCIS and, if needed, working with a specialist to organize the evidence in a clear and compelling way.

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.