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Explore visasEB-1ACommon RFE topics

Specific evidence

Membership requiring outstanding achievement

Whether an association admits members based on outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.

What USCIS is questioning

  • Whether the association, or the membership level you hold, requires outstanding achievements in your field, as judged by recognized national or international experts.[1,2]

The legal standard

  • 8 CFR 204.5(h)(3)(ii) requires membership in associations in the field that require outstanding achievements of their members, as judged by recognized national or international experts.[2]
  • Associations can have several levels, and the level you hold must require expert-judged outstanding achievement. A fellow level selected by a panel of experts may qualify when general membership does not. Past memberships can count.[1,3]

How the request usually reads

  • Interpretation An RFE on this criterion typically asks for the association's bylaws or admission rules and for evidence of who evaluates candidates and on what basis.[1,4]

Evidence petitioners often provide

  • Interpretation Bylaws or membership rules; the nomination and selection procedure; the credentials of the people who judge candidates; and proof of your membership level and the date you were admitted.[1]

Where responses go wrong

  • Membership based only on education, years of experience, paying a fee, subscribing to publications, or an employment requirement such as union membership does not qualify.[1]
  • Current membership is not required, but if the petition has no recent evidence, the time since the membership may be considered when deciding sustained acclaim at the final merits stage.[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.Policy Alert PA-2024-24: Extraordinary Ability Criteria ClarificationUSCIS · USCIS Policy Manual · Published Oct 2, 2024 · Checked Sep 27, 2026
  4. 4.USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part E, Chapter 6 - EvidenceUSCIS · USCIS Policy Manual · Checked Sep 27, 2026