USCIS determines that to qualify for the EB-1 visa, an award must be nationally or internationally recognized and must indicate exceptional achievements in your field.

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What and how do you need to prove
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You are the recipient of a prize or award

• A copy of the award certificate.
• A clear photo of the prize or award.
• A public announcement of the award granting.
• An extract from the protocol of the competition or contest.
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The prize or award is related to your field 

• An extract from the rules of the competition indicating the professional area of the contest.
• A public announcement of the contest in the media, explaining the professional requirements for participants.
• A list of other contest winners, confirming that the contest is relevant to your specialization.
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The prize or award is recognized nationally or internationally

• Evidence of the organization’s or jury’s high reputation, such as rankings, research, articles in professional or general press, or quotes from notable figures.
• Official information about the geographical scope of participants and the regions from which candidates can apply.
• The number of prizes or awards granted each year.
• A list of jury members with confirmation of their authority.
• A list of previous winners provided by the organizers or articles from the general press.

The award was given for truly outstanding achievements

• An extract from the rules outlining the criteria used to grant the prize or award.
• Competition protocols indicating the criteria by which each participant was judged.
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An official letter from the organizers of the competition confirming or clarifying the relevant aspects can serve as a good substitute for one of the listed documents.
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Media coverage of the contest is a big plus for your EB-1 visa application. Ideally, these should be respected publications with a large audience, confirming the contest's high reputation, its professional scope, and your participation in it.

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Examples of qualifying awards for the EB-1 visa
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1. Awards from well-known national or international professional associations for their contribution to the industry.

2. Awards for scientific papers, book, or publications recognized by academic and professional institutions.

3. Prizes for best reports or presentations at well-known national or international conferences.

4. Scholarships and grants from renowned institutions or foundations awarded for exceptional achievements or growth potential for the industry.

5. Recognition from government institutions for contributions to industry development.

6. Inclusion in prestigious rankings, and awards such as "Developer of the Year" or "Entrepreneur of the Year".

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Cover letter
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For each award applied for an EB1 visa, a cover letter is required, typically highlighting the following aspects:

1. Description and significance of the award: Where and when you received the award, along with a full description of its significance.

2. Scope of the award: Indicate whether the award is national or international, and how frequently it is awarded.

3. Type of competition and organization’s reputation: Describe the type of competition and the reputation of the organizing entity, including any partnering companies.

4. Participants and participation criteria: Specify who can participate in the contest and what restrictions exist for participants.

5. Number of participants, nominations, and winners: Indicate how many participants, nominations, and winners were in the contest.

6. Criteria for selecting winners: Describe the requirements used for selecting winners.

7. Judges’ qualifications: Mention the qualifications and credentials of the judges, as well as the reputation of the organization hosting the competition.

8. Media coverage of the contest: Provide links to articles or reports in the media that mention the contest or award.

9. Previous winners and their recognition: List previous winners and their achievements.

10. Significance of the event: Describe the event's place in the industry, its prestige, and importance.

It’s best to accompany each fact with a link. It’s preferable for the visa officer to follow your link rather than searching for information on the internet themselves.

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Common mistakes
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The prize must be awarded personally to the applicant

The prize should be awarded directly to the applicant, not his company or project. It is essential that the documents submitted for an EB1 visa clearly indicate that it was the applicant who received the award and not the organization they work for.
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Insufficient evidence of the award’s significance 

One of the most common mistakes when meeting the "Award" criterion for an EB-1 visa is providing insufficient evidence or documents confirming the significance of the award. It is important to provide detailed information about the awarding organization and the participation criteria.
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Lack of proof of a strict competitive selection process If the winner selection process isn’t well-documented, it could raise doubts about the strictness of the selection. Competitions should not set the bar too low by limiting participants to a specific level (e.g., for mid-level managers and below). Additionally, student competitions cannot be used as proof of meeting the EB-1 criteria.
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Insufficient information about the professional scope of the award Visa officers may require more details about the relevance of the award to your field, including its significance within it and recognition by prominent experts.
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Often, the officer reviews your awards for the EB-1 visa from the perspective of whether it is the highest in the given field. Requests for Evidence (RFEs) may require expert letters from recognized specialists in your industry. These letters should contain compelling evidence that the awards are nationally or internationally recognized and confirm your extraordinary expertise.

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Important Points
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• Do not just limit yourself to recent awards in your EB-1 visa application.  Include those received earlier in your career, as long as they are relevant to your current field.
• Apply for new awards in your field to strengthen your EB-1 visa case. There is a good list of contests on the website Awards-List.com. 
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Do not forget that all submitted documents must be translated into English.