EB-1A · Common RFE topics

Specific evidence

• Lesser national or international awardsWhether an award you received is nationally or internationally recognized for excellence in your field.
• Membership requiring outstanding achievementWhether an association admits members based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.
• Published material about youWhether articles or coverage are about you and your work and appeared in qualifying media.
• Judging the work of othersWhether you actually served as a judge of others' work in your field or an allied field.
• Original contributions of major significanceWhether your original work has had major significance in your field.
• Authorship of scholarly articlesWhether you have authored scholarly articles in qualifying publications, and what their caliber shows.
• Artistic exhibitions or showcasesWhether your own work was displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases.
• Leading or critical roleWhether your role was leading or critical for an organization, or a division of one, with a distinguished reputation.
• High salary or remunerationWhether your pay is high compared with others in your field, using reliable comparison data.
• Commercial success in the performing artsWhether sales or box office results show commercial success compared with others in the performing arts.
• Comparable evidenceWhether a criterion truly does not readily apply to your occupation, and whether the substitute evidence is truly comparable.

Eligibility criteria

• Final merits determinationWhether the record as a whole shows sustained acclaim and a place among the small percentage at the very top of your field.
• Sustained acclaimWhether your national or international acclaim has been maintained over time.
• Continuing work in your fieldWhether you will keep working in your area of extraordinary ability in the United States.