EB-1A Kazarian 10-Criteria Self-Assessment

Answer questions across each of the 10 USCIS regulatory criteria for the EB-1A extraordinary ability green card. Get a strength score, see how many criteria you likely meet at step one, and identify the specific RFE risks driving the 53.4% Q4 FY2025 approval environment.

5 to 8 minutes Anonymous, no signup Runs in your browser 2026 adjudication standard
Strength Score
0 / 100
Criteria Met
0 / 10
RFE Flags
0

How this assessment works

USCIS adjudicates EB-1A in two steps. Step one counts criteria; step two is the holistic "final merits" review where most 2026 denials happen. This tool scores both:

  • Per-criterion score (0 to 10): a criterion is treated as "met" at 5 or higher.
  • Strength Score (0 to 100): sum of all 10 criteria scores, adjusted for sustained-acclaim recency and overclaim risk.
  • RFE flags: evidence patterns currently driving 2026 denials at NSC and TSC.
CRITERION 1

Lesser Nationally or Internationally Recognized Awards

0 / 10
Receipt of nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in your field. Excludes academic scholarships and student awards.
How many nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes have you received?
Were any awards judged by experts outside your immediate institution or employer?
Were the awards competitive (open submission or peer-selected from a wide pool)?
When was your most recent award?
CRITERION 2

Membership in Distinguished Associations

0 / 10
Membership in associations that require outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.
Are you a member of professional associations whose entry requires outstanding achievements (not just dues or open enrollment)?
Is membership judged by recognized national or international experts in the field?
Does the association have national or international standing?
CRITERION 3

Published Material About You

0 / 10
Articles published about you and your work in major trade publications, professional journals, or general circulation media.
How many articles or features in major trade or general media have profiled you or your work?
In what circulation/readership tier?
Were the pieces about you specifically (not just brief mentions or quotes)?
CRITERION 4

Judging the Work of Others

0 / 10
Participation as a judge of the work of others, individually or on a panel — peer review, grant review, competition judging.
How many times have you formally judged or peer-reviewed the work of others?
For what tier of venues?
Was the judging in your specific field of claim?
CRITERION 5

Original Contributions of Major Significance

0 / 10
Original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field. Often the highest-leverage criterion.
Have your contributions (research, products, methods, frameworks) been widely adopted, cited, or built upon by others?
How many independent expert reference letters can you secure from people who have actually used or built on your work?
Have your contributions been featured in policy, standards, major industry deployments, or product launches with measurable reach?
Citation count for your most-cited work, OR product reach (users / customers) for industry contributions:
CRITERION 6

Authorship of Scholarly Articles

0 / 10
Authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media.
How many peer-reviewed publications have you authored?
Are you first author or corresponding author on most of your publications?
Were your venues respected (top-quartile journals, top-tier conferences)?
Total citations across all your work:
CRITERION 7

Display at Artistic Exhibitions

0 / 10
Display of your work at artistic exhibitions or showcases. Most relevant for visual artists, designers, and performers. Skip if not applicable.
Have your works been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases?
Were the venues curated or juried (not pay-to-show)?
Solo or group exhibitions?
CRITERION 8

Leading or Critical Role for Distinguished Organizations

0 / 10
A leading or critical role for an organization or establishment with a distinguished reputation. Strong choice for senior engineers, founders, executives.
Have you held a leading or critical role at one or more organizations?
Does the organization have a distinguished reputation in your field?
Was your role critical to a major project, product, or initiative (not just title)?
CRITERION 9

High Remuneration

0 / 10
A high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services, in relation to others in the field.
How does your total compensation compare to typical pay in your field and region?
Do you have third-party comparative wage data (BLS OES, Levels.fyi, Radford, industry survey)?
Does your total compensation including bonus and equity exceed peer median by a meaningful margin?
CRITERION 10

Commercial Successes in Performing Arts

0 / 10
Commercial successes in the performing arts as shown by box-office receipts, sales, or streaming data. Skip if not applicable.
Have you achieved commercial success measurable against industry standards (sales, ticket revenue, streaming)?
Do you have third-party data documenting that commercial impact?

Sustained Acclaim Check

Officers in 2026 routinely check whether your acclaim is recent. Front-loaded evidence from 5+ years ago triggers RFEs even when criteria are technically met.

When was your most recent significant achievement (publication, award, original contribution, leading role)?
In the last 12 months, have you produced substantive new evidence of acclaim?

Strategic Plan

This is informational and only triggers an overclaim penalty if you claim more than you can strongly support.

How many of the 10 criteria do you plan to claim in your petition?
EB-1A Strength Score
0
out of 100
Calculating...

  RFE Risk Flags Detected
  Top Recommendations

    This self-assessment is an educational tool, not legal advice. EB-1A adjudication outcomes depend on the full evidentiary record, the cover letter argument, the specific officer assigned, and current USCIS adjudication trends. Consult an experienced immigration attorney before filing.

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