The experts in my field live outside the US. Do recommendation letters still count?

Yes. In the EB-2 NIW, recommendation letters written by experts who live outside the United States remain valid and can strengthen your petition. What matters is not the country where the recommender lives, but their authority in the field and the weight of what they say about your work.

Letters serve as supporting evidence: they help show that recognized professionals consider your contributions relevant. A compelling recommendation typically identifies who the author is, why they have the credibility to comment, and which of your contributions they know firsthand.

Even so, no single letter sustains a petition on its own. The EB-2 NIW is evaluated holistically, so the ideal approach is to combine recommendation letters with other proof of your impact, such as:

• Publications, patents, or works cited by other professionals.
• Awards, invitations, and participation in recognized events.
• Concrete projects and results attributable to your work.

Each case is reviewed individually by the relevant authority. It is worth checking updated requirements with USCIS and, if in doubt, reviewing your full body of evidence with a specialist before filing.

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.