EB-1A Extraordinary
Ability Criteria

What Is the EB-1A Classification?

An alien of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics must demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim and recognition for achievements in their field of expertise. The petitioner must show that they are one of the small percentage of individuals who have risen to the very top of their field of endeavor.

How to Satisfy the Criteria

Each EB-1A petition must be supported by evidence demonstrating satisfaction of the qualifying criteria. A petitioner may qualify by presenting evidence of a single major, internationally recognized award (such as a Nobel Prize or Academy Award), or by meeting at least three of the ten regulatory criteria outlined in this guide.

Major, Internationally Recognized Award

A major, internationally recognized award — such as a Nobel Prize or Academy Award — can serve as standalone evidence of extraordinary ability. If the petitioner has received such an award, no additional criteria need to be met.

Evidence Required

• The award is internationally recognized as one of the top awards for the field.
• The criteria used to grant the award.
• The significance of the award in the field.
• The reputation of the organization or the panel granting the award.
• Previous winners of the award who held international acclaim at the time of receiving the award.
• How the award attracts competition from internationally recognized individuals in the field.

Criterion 1: Nationally or Internationally Recognized Prizes or Awards

This criterion covers awards, prizes, grants, venture capital funding, prestigious research grants (e.g., Ford Foundation or Fulbright), or national or international competitive rankings for athletes. These awards must be for excellence in the field but need not reach the level of a major international award.

Evidence Required

• Copies of the award certificate(s) or other confirmation of receipt (e.g., confirmation letter, photo of trophy, media coverage).
• Criteria used to nominate and judge the participants and award winners.
• Evidence that the beneficiary received an award or monetary grant and, if available, the criteria used in electing recipients and the number of individuals who have received the award, grant, or funding.
• The origination, purpose, significance, and scope of each award, prize, or grant, including the reputation of the granting organization, how many are awarded each year, previous winners, and limitations on eligible competitors.

Criterion 2: Membership in Associations Requiring Outstanding Achievement

This criterion requires evidence of membership in professional associations that demand outstanding achievement as a condition of admission, as judged by recognized national or international experts.

Evidence Required

• Proof of membership (e.g., membership card, welcome letter or email, certificate).
• The minimum requirements and criteria used to accept a person for membership.
• The number of members and the beneficiary's ranking among the members, if any.
• The status of the association within the national or international community in the field of endeavor.
• Evidence of recognized national or international experts who make determinations about membership.
• Other relevant requirements for the level of membership afforded to the beneficiary, if any.

Criterion 3: Published Material About the Beneficiary

This criterion requires published material in professional or major trade publications or major media about the beneficiary and their work in the field. The material must be about the beneficiary specifically — not merely a passing mention.

Evidence Required

• PDFs of the published material and/or screenshots from TV or online coverage, as well as transcripts from TV, radio, or podcast coverage, including the title, date, author, publisher, URL, and translation (if necessary).
• Information about the publication and its significance in general or in the field.
• The publication's national or international circulation or viewership statistics.
• For longer publications (e.g., books or chapters), submit the title page, table of contents, and the first few pages of the book or chapter related to the beneficiary's work.
• For blog posts, provide information about the blog's relevance in the field, visitor stats, submission requirements, and/or editorial process; if available, provide examples of experts citing posts from that blog.
• If the published material focuses on a team of which the beneficiary was a member, additional evidence documenting their significant role in the team's work or research must be provided.

Criterion 4: Judge of the Work of Others

This criterion requires evidence that the beneficiary has participated as a judge or on a panel that evaluated the work of others in the beneficiary's field of specialization or in an allied field.

Evidence Required

• Evidence showing the beneficiary has participated as a judge or on a panel that evaluated the work of others.
• Information about the organization for which the beneficiary was judging and the nature and prestige of the event or competition, including profiles of other judges if part of a panel.
• Documentation explaining the role, level, work judged, and how and why the beneficiary was invited or selected as a judge.
• Information on what was "at stake" and the beneficiary's influence (e.g., recommender, voting member, final decision maker).
• Evidence showing the judging actually occurred.
• For peer reviews: copy of the review (if available), information about the journal and its review process.

Examples of Acceptable Judging

• Reviewer of abstracts or papers submitted for presentation at scholarly conferences in the respective field.
• Peer reviewer for scholarly publications or government research funding programs.
• Member of a doctoral dissertation committee.

Criterion 5: Original Contributions of Major Significance

This criterion requires evidence that the beneficiary has made original contributions of major significance in their field. The contributions must be both original — not merely replicating the work of others — and of major significance to the field as a whole.

Evidence Required

• Published materials about the significance of the beneficiary's original work.
• Testimonials, letters, or affidavits about the beneficiary's original work, including letters from venture capitalists, CEOs or founders of distinguished organizations, and/or recognized experts in the field — all describing in detail the beneficiary's achievements and how they are of major significance.
• Documentation that the beneficiary's work was cited at a level indicative of major significance in the field.
• Evidence that the beneficiary's work has been commercialized or is being implemented by others, including contracts with companies using the beneficiary's products, and patents or use licenses deriving from the beneficiary's work.
• Pending patents require additional supporting evidence to document the originality of the beneficiary's contribution, such as detailed reference letters.
• Evidence of visitor traffic to the beneficiary's website if the beneficiary's business is primarily based online.
• The number of individuals who purchased or downloaded the beneficiary's products or applications.
• Evidence showing that the beneficiary's product or application made original contributions of major significance to the field of endeavor.

Criterion 6: Authorship of Scholarly Articles

This criterion requires evidence of authorship of scholarly articles in the field, published in professional or major trade publications or other major media. A scholarly article should be written for a learned person in that field.

Evidence Required

• Publications in professionally-relevant journals or major media (newspaper articles, popular and academic journal or magazine articles, books, textbooks, or online publications).
• PDFs of the authored and published material, including the title, date, publisher, URL, translation (if necessary), information about the publication and its significance, and circulation or viewership statistics.
• For longer publications (e.g., books or chapters), submit the title page, table of contents, and the first few pertinent pages.
• For blog posts, provide information about the blog's relevance in the field, visitor stats, submission requirements, and/or editorial process; if available, provide examples of experts citing posts from that blog.
• Published conference presentations at nationally or internationally recognized conferences.
• Information about the publication's intended audience.
• Data regarding circulation, readership, or viewership (local, national, or international).
• Complete record of the scholarly articles authored (e.g., Google Scholar) with citation statistics.
• Evidence explaining the significance and importance of these articles within the field.

Criterion 7: Display of Work at Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases

This criterion applies to individuals whose work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases. It is most commonly used by visual artists, filmmakers, designers, architects, and similar professionals.

Evidence Required

• PDFs of programs, flyers, media coverage, reviews, etc.
• Evidence that the work displayed is the person's work product (e.g., media coverage, official credits, testimonials, sketches/drafts/photos documenting the creation of the work).
• Evidence that the venue (virtual or otherwise) qualifies as an artistic exhibition or showcase (e.g., art exhibit, film festival, film screening at awards ceremonies, theatre festivals, TV specials showcasing a select group of talent, fashion shows, commercial photography published in major media, architecture or interior design for public or semi-public venues).
• Evidence of the prestige and/or distinction of the event, showcase, exhibition, or venue.

Criterion 8: Leading or Critical Role for Distinguished Organizations

This criterion requires evidence that the beneficiary has performed in a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation. The employment must be in the same field for which EB-1A classification is sought.

Evidence Required

• Letters confirming the beneficiary's employment dates, role, and job duties and explaining what made the beneficiary "critical" or "essential."
• Employment must be in the same field for which EB-1A classification is sought.
• Supporting evidence of the beneficiary's critical role (e.g., sales reports, official website, or press releases).
• Evidence of the employing organization's distinguished reputation (e.g., media coverage, industry standing, longevity, or receipt of significant funding from government entities, VC funds, angel investors, or other funders).

Criterion 9: High Salary or Substantial Compensation

This criterion requires evidence that the beneficiary has commanded a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, relative to others in the field.

Evidence Required

• Tax returns, pay statements, or other evidence of past salary or remuneration for services.
• Contract, job offer letter, or other evidence of prospective salary or remuneration for services.
• Comparative wage or remuneration data for the beneficiary's field, such as geographical or position-appropriate compensation surveys.
• Media reports of notably high salaries earned by others in the field, distinguishing among levels of expertise, education, and years of experience.
• A list compiled by a credible professional organization of the top earners in the profession.
• Information from the U.S. Department of Labor or similar sources showing the comparison of salaries (e.g., Bureau of Labor Statistics data).
• Testimony from industry experts.

Criterion 10: Commercial Successes in the Performing Arts

This criterion applies specifically to individuals in the performing arts and requires evidence of commercial success, as demonstrated by box office receipts, record sales, or other measurable indicators.

Evidence Required

• Box office receipts, movie or TV ratings.
• Ticket sales.
• Billboard charts or record sales reports.
• Sales rankings or statistics.
• Download statistics (for performing artists, but also for visual artists in gaming or interactive design).
• Metrics from Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and other streaming services, along with documentation explaining why these numbers qualify as commercial success.

Using Comparable Evidence

If the preceding criteria do not readily apply to the beneficiary's occupation, comparable evidence may be submitted. This is an important option for individuals in emerging fields or unconventional occupations where traditional criteria may not fit neatly.

What to Submit