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Explore visasEB-1ACommon RFE topics

Specific evidence

Judging the work of others

Whether you actually served as a judge of others' work in your field or an allied field.

What USCIS is questioning

  • Whether you actually took part in judging the work of others in the same or an allied field, not just whether you were invited.[1,2]

The legal standard

  • 8 CFR 204.5(h)(3)(iv) covers participation, individually or on a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the same or an allied field.[2]
  • Policy Manual examples include peer review for scholarly journals or conferences, serving on a Ph.D. dissertation committee, and reviewing for government research funding programs. The petition must show that the review was actually completed.[1]

How the request usually reads

  • Interpretation An RFE on this criterion typically says the record shows invitations but not completed reviews, or that the work judged was outside your field.[1,3]

Evidence petitioners often provide

  • Interpretation Invitations from journals, conferences, or funding programs paired with confirmation that the reviews were completed; appointment letters for editorial boards or committees; and departmental records for dissertation committees.[1]

Where responses go wrong

  • Invitations alone are not enough.[1]
  • Judging satisfies the criterion at step one, but in the final merits review the officer asks whether your judging reflects top-of-field standing, so the venue and your role matter.[1]

This information is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not predict the outcome of any individual case.

Sources

  1. 1.USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part F, Chapter 2 — Extraordinary AbilityUSCIS · USCIS Policy Manual · Checked Sep 27, 2026
  2. 2.8 CFR 204.5 - Petitions for employment-based immigrantseCFR (Office of the Federal Register) · Regulation · Checked Sep 27, 2026
  3. 3.USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part E, Chapter 6 - EvidenceUSCIS · USCIS Policy Manual · Checked Sep 27, 2026