EB-1A Criteria: The 10 Standards Explained
Complete guide to the 10 EB-1A criteria for demonstrating extraordinary ability. Learn what each criterion requires and how to build evidence that satisfies USCIS standards.
Understanding EB-1A Criteria
USCIS has established 10 specific criteria for demonstrating extraordinary ability. To qualify for an EB-1A green card, you must satisfy at least 3 of these 10 criteria. The alternative is providing evidence of a one-time major achievement (like a Nobel Prize), but this is rare.
The criteria are designed to cover a wide range of fields and achievement types. Not all criteria apply to every profession—choose the ones most relevant to your background and where you can provide the strongest evidence.
Most Accessible EB-1A Criteria
While all 10 criteria are valid, some are more accessible to professionals across industries. EB1Abooster focuses on helping you satisfy these four criteria:
Criterion #4: Judging
Peer review, editorial boards, and competition judging are accessible to most professionals with expertise.
Criterion #1: Awards
Professional awards in technology, business, and other fields are more attainable than many realize.
Criterion #2: Membership
Senior grades in professional societies like IEEE and ACM are achievable for experienced professionals.
Criterion #6: Publications
Contributing to trade publications and professional journals is accessible to industry experts.
All 10 EB-1A Criteria Explained
Nationally or Internationally Recognized Prizes or Awards
Receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor.
What Counts
- • Industry awards from recognized professional organizations
- • Best paper awards at major conferences
- • National or international competition prizes
- • Government or foundation grants for excellence
- • Professional achievement awards
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Internal company awards or employee recognition
- • Participation certificates
- • Local or regional awards with limited recognition
- • Awards available to anyone who applies
Evidence Requirements
- • Award certificate or trophy documentation
- • Selection criteria and judging process information
- • Number of recipients vs. applicants
- • Prestige of the awarding organization
- • Media coverage of the award
Membership in Associations Requiring Outstanding Achievements
Membership in associations in the field which require outstanding achievements of their members, as judged by recognized national or international experts.
What Counts
- • IEEE Senior Member or Fellow
- • ACM Distinguished Member or Fellow
- • Professional society honors grades
- • Selective academic societies (Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Kappa)
- • Invitation-only professional organizations
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Basic memberships available by paying dues
- • Student memberships
- • Certifications based only on passing an exam
- • Organizations with open membership policies
Evidence Requirements
- • Membership certificate and confirmation letter
- • Organization's membership criteria documentation
- • Evidence that experts judge membership applications
- • Acceptance rates if available
- • Description of the organization's prestige
Published Material About You
Published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media, relating to your work in the field.
What Counts
- • Feature articles in major trade publications
- • Profiles in industry magazines
- • News coverage of your achievements
- • Interviews in professional journals
- • Podcast or video features about your work
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Self-authored articles (that's criterion 6)
- • Press releases you wrote
- • Simple mentions without substantive content
- • Social media posts or blog comments
Evidence Requirements
- • Full copies of published articles
- • Circulation/readership data for the publication
- • Information about the publication's prestige
- • English translations if in foreign language
- • Evidence that content focuses on your work
Participation as a Judge of Others' Work
Evidence of your participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the same or an allied field of specialization.
What Counts
- • Journal peer reviewer positions
- • Conference program committee memberships
- • Grant review panel participation
- • Award judging responsibilities
- • Editorial board memberships
- • Competition judge roles
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Reviewing work of your direct reports
- • Internal code reviews at your company
- • Evaluating student work (unless for prestigious competitions)
- • Informal feedback on colleagues' work
Evidence Requirements
- • Invitation letters from journals or organizations
- • Thank-you letters acknowledging completed reviews
- • Reviewer certificates
- • Records of reviews completed
- • Information about the publication's prestige
Original Contributions of Major Significance
Evidence of original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field.
What Counts
- • Patents with documented impact
- • Widely adopted methodologies you developed
- • Technologies used by major organizations
- • Research cited extensively by others
- • Products or services with significant market impact
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Routine job responsibilities
- • Incremental improvements without major impact
- • Contributions without documented significance
- • Ideas without implementation or adoption
Evidence Requirements
- • Patent documents and licensing agreements
- • Citation reports showing research impact
- • Letters from experts describing significance
- • Documentation of industry adoption
- • Revenue or user metrics for products
Authorship of Scholarly Articles
Evidence of authorship of scholarly articles in the field, in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
What Counts
- • Peer-reviewed journal publications
- • Conference papers at major venues
- • Book chapters in academic publications
- • Articles in major trade publications
- • Technical reports with wide distribution
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Blog posts (unless on major platforms)
- • Internal company documentation
- • Social media posts
- • Unpublished manuscripts
Evidence Requirements
- • Published articles with your authorship
- • Citation counts from Google Scholar or similar
- • Impact factor of publications
- • Evidence of the publication's prestige
- • Reader/download statistics if available
Display of Work at Artistic Exhibitions
Evidence of the display of your work in the field at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
What Counts
- • Gallery exhibitions
- • Museum displays
- • Major design showcases
- • Film festival screenings
- • Architectural exhibitions
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Personal websites or social media galleries
- • Small local shows
- • Group exhibitions without individual recognition
- • Student exhibitions
Evidence Requirements
- • Exhibition catalogs listing your work
- • Invitations from prestigious venues
- • Media coverage of the exhibition
- • Reviews of your displayed work
- • Attendance figures for the venue
Leading or Critical Role in Distinguished Organizations
Evidence that you have performed in a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation.
What Counts
- • C-level positions at notable companies
- • Founder of successful ventures
- • Department head at major institutions
- • Principal investigator on major grants
- • Board positions at prestigious organizations
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Mid-level management roles
- • Team lead without strategic impact
- • Roles at unknown organizations
- • Temporary or acting positions
Evidence Requirements
- • Employment verification letters describing your role
- • Organization charts showing your position
- • Evidence of the organization's reputation
- • Documentation of decisions you made
- • Revenue or growth metrics you influenced
High Salary or Remuneration
Evidence that you have commanded a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, in relation to others in the field.
What Counts
- • Base salary significantly above industry average
- • Total compensation including equity and bonuses
- • Consulting rates above market norms
- • Speaking fees or royalties
- • Signing bonuses for your expertise
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Average compensation for your role
- • High salary due to cost of living, not expertise
- • One-time bonuses not tied to performance
- • Benefits without monetary value
Evidence Requirements
- • Offer letters and pay stubs
- • Tax returns (Form W-2 or 1099)
- • Salary surveys for your field
- • Expert testimony on compensation norms
- • Comparison data for your position and geography
Commercial Success in the Performing Arts
Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts, as shown by box office receipts or record, cassette, compact disk, or video sales.
What Counts
- • Box office receipts for performances
- • Album or streaming sales figures
- • Ticket sales for concerts or shows
- • Merchandise revenue
- • Licensing deals for your performances
✕What Doesn't Count
- • Self-reported income without verification
- • Projected or anticipated sales
- • Success in non-performing arts fields
- • Small venue performances
Evidence Requirements
- • Box office statements
- • Sales reports from labels or distributors
- • Billboard or chart positions
- • Streaming platform statistics
- • Contracts with revenue terms
Choosing Which EB-1A Criteria to Pursue
You only need to satisfy 3 of the 10 criteria, so strategic selection is key. Consider these factors when choosing which criteria to pursue:
Current Evidence
Start with criteria where you already have some evidence. Building on existing achievements is more efficient than starting from scratch.
Time to Build
Some criteria (like peer review) can be built quickly, while others (like high-profile awards) may take years.
Your Field
Different criteria are more relevant to different fields. Researchers focus on publications and citations; business professionals on leadership roles.
Evidence Strength
Quality matters more than quantity. Three strong criteria with excellent documentation beat five weak criteria.
Start Building Your EB-1A Evidence
EB1Abooster helps you find opportunities to satisfy EB-1A criteria. Our database includes judging positions, awards, memberships, and publications specifically selected for their EB-1A relevance.