What should I include in a recommendation letter for the EB-2 NIW?

A strong recommendation letter for the EB-2 NIW does more than praise: it shows, with examples, why the candidate’s work is relevant and how it connects to the national interest of the United States. That is why it should be written by someone with credibility and real knowledge in the field.

To fulfill that role, the letter usually brings together a few elements:

• Who the author is: their qualifications and why their opinion carries weight.
• The relationship with the candidate and the evidence it is based on.
• Concrete examples of projects, research or contributions and their impact.
• The link between those achievements and the interests of the United States.

The secret is specificity: documented details are more convincing than generic adjectives. Since each case is unique, it is worth personalizing each letter and relying on specialized support to ensure it meets the criteria and follows immigration laws.

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.