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Aliens of Extraordinary Ability To qualify as an alien of extraordinary ability in a certain field of endeavor, the foreign national must meet the following regulatory criteria:

Aliens of Extraordinary Ability
To qualify as an alien of extraordinary ability in a certain field
of endeavor, the foreign national must meet the following regulatory criteria:

  • One-time Achievement such as major internationally recognized award:
    • Evidence can include such rewards as Oscar, Emmys, Nobel prizes or other national or international awards

OR meet three of the following:

  • Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence:
    • Evidence can include lower level national or international recognitions for excellence in the field, commendations from the state or government, plaques, awards, medals, letters of excellence, poster presentation awards, scientific research grant or scholarship and etc.
  • Evidence of membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members:
  • Evidence can include an professional associations or organizations, boards and etc. where you are a member that has rather high threshold to become a member. For example, an honorary member whose achievements were acknowledged or recognized, or there is a strict educational and professional or artistic experience requirement, or achievement of some sort of professional level, or publication of a scientific article, or performance or an album release and etc.
  • Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media:
    • Evidence can include any interviews or articles and publications on line, TV, press or any other media that is about you or your professional achievements (interviews and etc.)
  • Evidence of judging the work of others, either individually or on a panel:
    • Evidence can include documents showing that you were a part of a judging panel, or an individual judge of your peers in the field, or an editor, peer reviewer of scientific publications, artistic or another performances, talent search, or any other capacity in which you have judged the work of others in your field.
    • If you participated in any scientific or industry conferences, conventions or congresses and were presiding on panels or moderating, or were a part of the scientific committee to select participants for these events.
  • Evidence of original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions or major significance to the field:
    • Evidence can include a written explanation detailing your most important achievement in your professional field and how will your achievement affect the future of your field, your industry.
    • Evidence can include patents and later mass production of your work, peer reviews, letters of recommendation from government, awards for your contribution, contracts and any other evidence that documents your professional achievement.
  • Evidence of authorship of scholarly article in professional or major trade publications or other major media:
    • If a scientist, evidence can include the number of articles in scientific publications or even major press. This may include links to these articles or electronic copies.
    • Evidence may further include presentations at conferences, conventions and congresses, reports or poster presentations.
    • Evidence may also include any artistic books, stories, novels, among others.
  • Evidence of display at artistic exhibitions or showcases:
    • Evidence of the work presented at artistic exhibitions or showcases in museums or galleries or any other relevant events, shows and performances
    • If achievements are of scientific nature and were presented at various national achievement fairs, or industry fairs or presentations or any other relevant events, evidence of these events must be submitted.
  • Evidence of performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations:
    • Evidence of performance in a leading or critical capacity such as project manager, chairman of the board of directors of a large corporation or acknowledged company, lead researcher, any official representation of a country, or government or such as ambassador or a NATO representative, dean of a University, or lead performer, singer or a band member, or a host at a major event.
  • Evidence of high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field:
    • Evidence of high salary as compared to others in your field
    • Evidence of country’s average or median wages in your field
    • Any other evidence placing the foreign national at the high earnings bracket, such as dividends or research grant or scholarships, employment contracts, among others.
  • Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts
    • Proof of the high gross income at the box office
    • Production contracts, letters of recommendation
    • Critical reviews in the media
    • Any other evidence that would establish commercial success