Facts about the expert opinion letter ( How, What, and Who)
How to Prepare an Expert Opinion Letter for the EB-1 Visa?
- these letters are different from reference or recommendation letters that one may use for employment as they are far more detailed and focus on the substantive accomplishments of the applicant.
- The letter must contain an explanation of the writer’s accomplishments, how they know you, and clearly delineate that you are nationally or internationally recognized and have made significant contributions to your field. These letters can also be used to provide context to the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (“USCIS”) officer adjudicating your petition regarding your critical role for an organization, the significance of your “major” prizes or awards, the prestige associated with your membership to an organization, and otherwise inform the officer of the importance of your accomplishments from the perspective of an esteemed insider in your field
What is the Purpose of the Expert Opinion Letter?
- An expert opinion letter is a letter that makes a statement of evidentiary support for the applicant. This letter should present a well-documented evaluation, providing sufficient evidence and information to help towards establishing the specific EB-1 criteria applicable to the beneficiary, as well as provide a contextual framework to many of the other criteria as mentioned above.
- For example, an expert opinion letter may provide the framework to understand the EB-1 specific criteria including:
- Original scientific, scholarly, or business-related contributions of major significance in the field
- Employment in a critical or essential capacity for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation
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Who should write the experts Opinion letter?
- Expert opinion providers may include past employers, professors, or colleagues, clients, editors, critics, curators, etc. Letters from famous people (e.g. a Nobel Prize winner or other prominent award winner) may strengthen your case. Letters can come from people who are, themselves, nationally or internationally recognized as experts in the field