visa trouble · Free O-1A checklist · 29 October 2026 · Official sources checked 19 October 2026
A printable way to map what you have against the evidence rules for O-1A, the US classification for extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics. Tick what you hold, write down the gaps, and take it to whoever is preparing your petition.
Meeting three criteria does not settle an O-1A case. USCIS first checks whether the evidence fits at least three of the eight criteria (or a one-time major award), then weighs the whole record to decide whether you are among the small percentage at the very top of your field, with sustained national or international acclaim. It weighs the quality of the evidence, not just the volume. This checklist cannot tell you whether your evidence is enough.
Use your browser’s Print command to print this checklist or save it as a PDF. Keep your completed copy privately; you do not need to send it to us. For the full explanation, read O-1A criteria: the eight types of evidence.
A major, internationally recognized award on the scale of the Nobel Prize meets the evidence requirement on its own. Most petitions instead rely on the eight criteria below.
Aim to document at least three. For each, tick the evidence you already hold and note what is missing.
USCIS looks at the award’s criteria, its national or international significance, how many people receive it and who can compete. An award limited to one locality, employer or school may carry little national recognition. A team award counts if you are a named recipient.
Gaps:
Membership must be judged by recognized national or international experts. Membership based only on education, years of experience, a fee, a subscription or a job requirement does not count.
Gaps:
Professional or major trade publications or major media. A passing mention is not enough; an article on a broader topic can count if it discusses my work substantially and names me. USCIS considers the audience and circulation.
Gaps:
The evidence must show I actually judged, on a panel or individually, in my field or an allied one. An invitation alone is not enough.
Gaps:
Two questions: is it original, and is it of major significance? Being funded, patented or published can show originality but does not on its own show major significance.
Gaps:
I must be a listed author, not necessarily first, in professional journals or other major media. Citations are not required for this criterion. Published presentations at recognized conferences can count.
Gaps:
Duties and performance decide this, not job title. The organization, division or department needs a distinguished reputation; for a startup, significant funding for its stage and industry can help show that.
Gaps:
Past or future pay, shown to be high compared with others in the field. Pay earned outside the US is compared with local wage data.
Gaps:
Comparable evidence. If a criterion does not readily apply to your occupation, the petitioner may submit comparable evidence for that criterion, explaining why the criterion does not apply and why the substitute is comparable. USCIS examples: a major trade show presentation in place of scholarly articles, or highly valued startup equity in place of a high salary. It does not lower the standard.
At the final step, USCIS may weigh any relevant evidence, even if it fits no criterion. Examples it lists as possible positive factors:
Is the acclaim sustained? Note your most recent evidence of acclaim:
For each letter, check that it:
| Writer and role | Criterion it supports | Requested / received |
|---|---|---|
You cannot file an O-1A petition for yourself. A US employer, a US agent, or a foreign employer through a US agent files it, and that petitioner provides these items.
| Gap | Next step | Who / when |
|---|---|---|
We checked these sources on 19 October 2026. Rules and fees change; check the current versions before relying on them.