The EB-1A Criteria Analysis - Alien's Original Scientific, Scholarly, Artistic, Athletic, or Business-Related Contributions of Major Significance in the Field

To satisfy this EB1 extraordinary ability criterion, the petitioner should provide evidence of the alien's "original contributions of major significance" to the field. The arguments alone are not sufficient. Although published work and funded research could be "original contributions” to a field. USCIS will check if the published work and funded research is indeed a major, significant contribution to the field. USCIS will determine whether the alien has made original contributions in the field, and whether the alien’s original contributions are of major significance to the field.

USCIS officers will evaluate whether the alien applicant's work constitutes major, significant contributions to the field. Although funded research and published work may be “original,” this fact alone is not sufficient to establish that the alien applicant's work has "major significance." For example, peer-reviewed presentations or peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals may have significance of the alien’s contributions to a field, if the presentations or articles have provoked widespread commentary or received a goodly number citations.

To assist the USCIS' assessment of the alien’s original contributions in a field, USCIS officers will also consider the reference letters from experts in the fields regarding the significance of the alien’s contributions. But only reference letters that specifically indicate the alien applicant’s contributions of major significance to the field and its impact on subsequent work could add value for the EB-1A petition. The reference letters that lack specifics do not add value, and will not be considered to be probative evidence by USCIS.

To meet this criterion, the submitted evidence should show that the beneficiary’s contributions are considered to be of major significance in the field of endeavor. To assist in determining whether the beneficiary’s contributions are original and of major significance in the field, the petitioner may submit:

• Objective documentary evidence of the significance of the beneficiary’s contribution to the field.
• Documentary evidence that people throughout the field currently consider the beneficiary’s work important.
• Testimony and/or support letters from experts which discuss the beneficiary’s contribution of major significance.
• Evidence that the beneficiary’s major significant contribution has provoked widespread public commentary in the field, or has been widely cited.
• Evidence of the beneficiary’s work being implemented by others.

Also, the reference letters and testimonies, if submitted, must provide a much detail as possible about the beneficiary’s contribution, and must explain, in detail, how the contribution was “original” (not merely replicating the work of others), and how they are of “major” significance. General statements regarding the importance of the endeavors are insufficient.

www.greencardapply.com/ea/extraordinary-ability-criteria.htm
www.greencardapply.com/ea.htm