Criterion 3 of 10
View Evidence ChecklistPublished Material About You
Has the media written about YOU and your work? Press releases don't count.
Difficulty
Medium
Common for
Entrepreneurs, Artists
Key Insight
Must be about you, not just mentioning your work
Evidence Strength Examples
USCIS evaluates the strength of your evidence. Here's what they look for:
High Evidence Strength
Strong evidence that clearly demonstrates extraordinary ability
Feature stories in major outlets (NYT, WSJ, Forbes, TechCrunch) or cover stories in top professional journals focusing specifically on your work.
Medium Evidence Strength
Moderate evidence that may need additional documentation
Interviews in niche industry blogs, local newspapers, or brief mentions in trade magazines.
Low Evidence Strength
Weak evidence that typically doesn't meet USCIS standards
Self-published blogs, press releases distributed by PR firms, or mentions in company newsletters.
How to Document This Criterion
Evidence to Collect
Types of documentation USCIS looks for
- Full copies of articles with publication information
- Circulation/readership statistics of the publication
- Author credentials and editorial independence evidence
- Translation if articles are in foreign languages
- Screenshots with URLs and publication dates
Pro Tips
Expert advice for stronger documentation
- 💡Articles must be ABOUT you, not just mentioning your company
- 💡Editorial content holds more weight than paid advertisements
- 💡Include circulation data to prove publication's reach
- 💡Avoid press releases—focus on independent journalism