Unlocking EB1A Judging Criteria: Crucial Insights for EB1A Victory
The 4th EB1A criterion is – ‘EB1A judging criteria’ or ‘evidence of your participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the same or a similar field’. EB1A judging criteria is a favorite criterion among EB1A aspirants, as there are many judging opportunities rightly available in any field.
Let’s dive deeper into the USCIS expectations and the evidence required for meeting the EB1A judging criteria, including the recent USCIS policy manual updates. Additionally, we address common questions related to this criterion.
Evaluation of EB1A Judging Criteria
The USCIS outlines two requirements for meeting the EB1A judging criteria, which are based on the recent USCIS Policy Manual update:
- It determines whether you were involved in judging the work of others in your field of expertise or a similar field.
- It examines whether your submitted evidence demonstrates that you were not only invited to the judging activity but also actively participated in judging the work of others in your field of expertise or a similar field.
For example, if you have done a peer review, you should submit a copy of the review request from the journal along with evidence that showcases that you completed the review work.
In addition, USCIS considers the quality of your judging work to decide whether you meet this criterion.
For example, if you have peer-reviewed a journal, you should submit evidence demonstrating that you have completed it, along with a letter of recommendation from the editor describing how your review work influenced the publication of the article, to satisfy the EB1A judging criteria.
Does Fulfilling the Judging Criteria Hinge Solely on Peer Reviewing?
Peer reviewing is one type of judging opportunity to meet this criterion. However, there are many judging activities available in any field that you can explore to satisfy the EB1A judging criteria.
A few examples include:
- Participating in hackathon judging competitions
- Actively participating in the hiring process
- Evaluating people for awards in your field
- Reviewing conference proceedings
- Peer-reviewing for government research funding programs
- Acting as a judge in entrepreneurship competitions
- Reviewing other people’s noteworthy work, such as algorithms and software
- Participating as a member of the Ph.D. dissertation committee
Evidence of Judging Criteria
You are required to submit compelling evidence that demonstrates your completion of the judging activity and your extraordinary ability.
Below are examples of evidence for the EB1A judging criteria:
- Information about the judging competition
- Receipt of the judging request invitation email and a thank-you email for participating as a judge
- Provision of information about other judges involved in the competition
- Media coverage acknowledging your participation as a judge
- Media coverage of the competition itself
- Proof of the selection criteria used for judges
- Information about awards
- A letter of recommendation describing information about the competition, what was judged, the criteria for judges, and the impact of your judging work
Does Mentoring Qualify for the EB1A Judging Criteria?
Many people have this question in mind – Does mentoring count as judging?
It is important to note that when you mentor others, they are usually not at your peer level, or their experience is less than yours. To satisfy the EB1A judging criteria, you need to assess other people’s work at your peer level or a higher level. So, it demonstrates your extraordinary ability.
For example, suppose you are acting as a judge in entrepreneurship competitions at universities. In that case, the students you are judging are participating as entrepreneurs. Therefore, it falls under peer reviews, and it can be impactful EB1A evidence.
Smart Green Card Master Guidance
Within the Smart Green Card (SGC) VIP plan, we implement a multi-point strategy to help you meet the EB1A judging criteria.
We guide you to appropriate judging opportunities in your field of expertise and actively assist in collecting the necessary high-quality evidence required by USCIS to fulfill this EB1A criterion.
Moreover, we ensure that your evidence demonstrates that you achieved sustained national or international acclaim to satisfy the EB1A petition.
Conclusion
Many individuals engage in esteemed judging opportunities but often fall short in accumulating the robust evidence required by USCIS, resulting in RFEs or failure to meet this EB1A criterion.
Therefore, ensure that you submit the appropriate evidence showcasing your extraordinary ability in your field of expertise to successfully fulfill this criterion.
In the Smart Green Card VIP plan, we support you in collecting compelling evidence from diverse judging opportunities you engage in. This ensures that you effectively meet the EB1A judging criteria.
At SGC, our assistance extends to satisfying at least six EB1A criteria, ensuring your eligibility for an EB1A green card without unnecessary delays.
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