What associations qualify?

‍USCIS defines qualifying associations for the EB-1 visa as those organizations that admit only individuals with proven extraordinary achievements, as confirmed by recognized national or international experts.

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Examples of qualifying associations for the EB-1 vis
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IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Membership at the Senior Grade level in IEEE may meet the requirements, as lower levels do not have strict achievement criteria..
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Techstars

Participation in the Techstars accelerator program, which has a high selectivity rate (accepting less than 5% of applications), can be qualifying. The selection process evaluates both the potential of the startup and the achievements of the founder.

This criterion for an EB-1 visa will not be qualified if membership is based on the following conditions:

• Educational level or many years of work experience.
• Payment of membership fees.
• Basic requirements, including test scores, or GPA.

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Documentation required for proof
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To successfully meet the membership criteria for the U.S. EB-1 visa, you must provide the following evidence:

• Proof of membership
  Membership card, certificate, member profile page, or membership confirmation letter.
• Field of activity
  Evidence that the association’s activities are directly related to your professional field.
• Outstanding achievements
  An excerpt from the association’s charter or rules indicating the requirement of extraordinary achievements for membership.
• Expert evaluation
  Information on the qualifications of the experts evaluating membership candidates, details on other prominent members of the association, confirming its prestige.

Pro Tip: If an association does not have strict membership criteria, consider joining its board of directors or other governing bodies, which can serve as proof of your selection to a high level.

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Important Points
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• Choosing associations
  Don’t limit yourself to local associations; explore international and national associations in your field.
• Documentary evidence
  Keep copies of all documents that prove your membership and the association’s criteria.
• A letter from the organizers
  If the information on the association’s website is not specific enough, request a letter from the association with detailed criteria and selection process descriptions.
• Past memberships
  USCIS has removed the consideration of the time factor in memberships. You can now include not only current but also past memberships in professional associations. This allows applicants to demonstrate their involvement and recognition in the professional community throughout their entire career.