EB-1A Evidence Checklist
Complete documentation guide for all 10 EB-1A criteria. Know exactly what evidence you need.
10
Criteria Categories
3+
Criteria Needed
5-8
Recommendation Letters
Important
You need to meet at least 3 of the 10 criteria. Quality of evidence matters more than quantity. Focus on your strongest 3-5 criteria rather than trying to claim all 10.
Documents to Collect:
- •Award certificates or letters
- •Selection criteria documentation
- •List of past recipients (showing prestige)
- •Media coverage of the award ceremony
- •Number of applicants/nominees (if available)
- •Organization background and reputation
Pro Tip: Focus on awards that were competitively selected by experts, not participation certificates.
Documents to Collect:
- •Membership certificate or letter
- •Organization's membership criteria
- •Evidence of selective admission process
- •Total members vs. eligible population
- •Organization's reputation documentation
- •Your membership application (if it shows achievements)
Pro Tip: Must require outstanding achievement, not just paying dues or having a degree.
Documents to Collect:
- •Full articles from major publications
- •TV/radio interview transcripts or recordings
- •Circulation/viewership data for the outlet
- •Screenshots of online articles with dates
- •Translations (if not in English)
- •Evidence of publication's significance
Pro Tip: Must be ABOUT you and your work, not just mentioning you or authored by you.
Documents to Collect:
- •Invitation letters to review/judge
- •Confirmation of completed reviews
- •Journal/conference reputation evidence
- •Number of reviews completed
- •Editor thank-you letters
- •Program committee appointments
Pro Tip: Quality matters more than quantity. Focus on prestigious venues.
Documents to Collect:
- •Patents and patent applications
- •Citation reports (Google Scholar, etc.)
- •Expert letters describing impact
- •Implementation examples (products using your work)
- •Industry adoption documentation
- •Before/after comparisons showing improvement
Pro Tip: This is often the strongest criterion. Get independent experts to explain significance.
Documents to Collect:
- •Published papers with your name
- •Journal/conference acceptance letters
- •Impact factor of publications
- •Citation counts and reports
- •Invited talks and presentations
- •Book chapters or monographs
Pro Tip: Include both the publications and evidence of their impact/readership.
Documents to Collect:
- •Exhibition catalogs featuring your work
- •Gallery/museum invitation letters
- •Critical reviews of exhibitions
- •Venue reputation documentation
- •Attendance/sales figures
- •Photos of displayed work with signage
Pro Tip: Focus on prestigious venues that curate work, not pay-to-display galleries.
Documents to Collect:
- •Organizational charts showing your position
- •Job descriptions and responsibilities
- •Organization's reputation evidence
- •Reports/projects you led
- •Letters from supervisors/executives
- •Media coverage of organization's achievements
Pro Tip: Must be for a distinguished organization, and role must be leading or critical.
Documents to Collect:
- •Employment contracts showing salary
- •Tax returns (W-2, 1099, etc.)
- •Pay stubs or salary verification letters
- •Comparative salary data (BLS, industry surveys)
- •Equity/bonus documentation
- •Geographic cost-of-living adjustments
Pro Tip: Must be significantly above average for your field. Top 10% is generally strong.
Documents to Collect:
- •Box office receipts or sales records
- •Streaming/download statistics
- •Contracts showing deal values
- •Chart positions or rankings
- •Sales certifications (gold, platinum)
- •Revenue reports from performances
Pro Tip: Must show success in performing arts specifically, with verifiable numbers.
Strong recommendation letters are crucial. Aim for 5-8 letters total.
Independent Experts (3-4)
- • People who don't know you personally
- • Recognized authorities in your field
- • Can speak to your reputation and impact
Colleagues/Supervisors (2-4)
- • Direct knowledge of your work
- • Can provide specific examples
- • Senior positions preferred
Check Your Evidence Strength
Use our free calculator to assess which criteria you can claim with your current evidence.