My references use technical jargon. Will the officer understand?

In most cases, yes. Officers who review EB-2 NIW petitions are experienced in evaluating advanced fields and dealing with specialized terminology. Even so, the goal of reference letters is not to impress through technical vocabulary, but to make the impact and relevance of your work clearly understood.

The key is balance: a strong letter combines technical depth with clarity. If the text relies solely on jargon, it risks obscuring precisely what needs to stand out, which is why your work matters and what it changes in your field.

• Ask your references to contextualize technical terms with concrete examples.
• Translate findings and contributions into outcomes that a reader outside the field can grasp.
• Connect each achievement to the broader relevance of the work, not just to its internal merit within the field.

Reviewing the letters with this perspective makes the case more compelling. Since the evaluation is conducted on a case-by-case basis, it is worth checking the updated guidance at USCIS or consulting an immigration professional when preparing the documentation.

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.