Essential Tips to Meet the EB1A 'Judging The Work of Others' Criteria Successfully

Published on: Mon Apr 07 2025

Are you applying for the EB1A visa and wondering how to prove you meet the “judging the work of others” requirement? This part of the application shows you are trusted as an expert in your field. Here are seven simple and effective tips to help you meet this important criterion.

1. Understand What “Judging the Work of Others” Means

Before you start, it’s important to know what USCIS looks for:

What counts as “judging”?
USCIS wants to see that you have evaluated or reviewed the work of other professionals in your field. This could be reviewing research papers, scoring projects, or giving expert feedback.
Formal vs. informal judging:
Formal judging includes roles like being a peer reviewer for journals, serving on grant review panels, or judging official competitions. Informal activities, like giving feedback to colleagues, usually aren’t enough for EB1A.
What evidence is needed?
Good evidence includes official letters, emails inviting you to review, certificates of participation, or published lists showing your role as a judge or reviewer. Screenshots of your reviewer profile can also help.

2. Become a Peer Reviewer for Journals or Conferences

One of the best ways to prove your judging experience is by reviewing work for journals or conferences:

How to get started:
Reach out to respected journals or conference organizers in your field. You can apply on their websites or ask colleagues for recommendations.
Keep track of your reviews:
Write down every paper or abstract you review. Note the title, date, and type (journal article, conference submission, etc.). This helps show how often you judge others’ work.
Get official proof:
Ask for letters or certificates confirming your role as a peer reviewer. These documents are strong evidence for your EB1A application.

3. Serve on Award or Grant Review Panels

Being part of panels that review grants or awards is another great way to show your expertise:

Join respected panels:
Look for opportunities to judge grant proposals, scholarships, or academic awards, especially with well-known universities or organizations.
Choose recognized groups:
Serving with national or international agencies adds credibility to your application.
Save all documentation:
Keep appointment letters, thank-you emails, or any official messages you receive for your service.

4. Judge Professional or Academic Competitions

Judging competitions is a clear sign that others value your skills:

Volunteer as a judge:
Offer to judge science fairs, research competitions, industry contests, or academic events related to your expertise.
Pick events with wide reach:
National or international competitions show your expertise is recognized beyond your local area.
Collect proof of participation:
Save certificates, event programs with your name, or thank-you notes from organizers. These will support your EB1A case.

5. Use Invitations to Review as Evidence

Invitations to judge or review show that others value your opinion:

Highlight invitations you didn’t ask for:
Getting invited without applying proves you are trusted in your field.
Save all invitations:
Keep copies of every email or letter inviting you to review someone’s work. Organize them in a folder for easy access.
Explain why being chosen matters:
In your application, make it clear that being selected shows you are respected and your expertise is valued.

6. Organize Your Evidence Clearly

Presenting your evidence in an organized way makes your application stronger:

Gather all documents:
Collect every email, letter, certificate, or other proof of your judging roles.
Create a summary table:
Make a simple table listing the dates, events, organizations, and your role, like this:

Date Event Name Organization Your Role
May 2023 Science Fair Finals National Science Org Judge
Highlight important details:
Make sure it’s easy to see your name, your role, and how each activity matches the “judging the work of others” requirement.

Date	Event Name	Organization	Your Role
May 2023	Science Fair Finals	National Science Org	Judge

7. Write a Strong Personal Statement

Your personal statement should clearly show why your judging experience matters:

Explain why you were chosen:
Tell how your skills led to being invited as a judge. For example, only top experts are chosen to review for certain journals or competitions.
Describe the importance of the events:
Mention if you judged at big events like national science fairs or well-known journals. The more important the event, the stronger your case.
Link judging to other achievements:
Connect your judging experience to your awards, research, or leadership roles. This shows you meet several EB1A criteria and helps tell your story as an expert.

Final Thoughts

Meeting the “judging the work of others” criterion for the EB1A visa is all about showing you are respected by other experts. By following these seven tips, you can gather the right evidence, organize it well, and make a strong case for your application. Good luck!