Recommendation letters cannot be reused from another EB-2 NIW case, right?

As a rule, yes: for the EB-2 NIW, the recommended approach is that each recommendation letter be written specifically for your case, not copied or repurposed from another petition. Every petition is unique, and the evidence must reflect your own trajectory and specific contributions.

The reason is straightforward: immigration officers evaluate the merit and relevance of what you present in relation to the national interest of the United States. A generic or recycled letter tends to feel disconnected from your profile and weakens the argument, while a tailored letter:

• Highlights specific accomplishments and the concrete context of your work.
• Connects your contributions to the impact in your field.
• Shows that the recommender genuinely knows your work.

This does not prevent the same expert from writing for you at different points in time, but each letter should be crafted for the specific petition at hand, with its own honest content.

Since each file is reviewed individually by the USCIS, it is worth checking the latest guidelines and working with a specialist to calibrate the set of letters for your case.

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.