New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria

On October 2, 2024, USCIS issued new guidance on EB-1 visa eligibility for individuals with extraordinary ability. The update allows team awards to qualify as lesser recognized prizes, considers past memberships under the membership criterion, and removes the requirement for published materials to show the value of an individual’s work. It also clarifies that non-artistic exhibitions can support comparable evidence claims, while only artistic exhibitions count under the regulatory definition. This guidance is effective immediately and replaces previous instructions.