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Leading role: what it is

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Leading role: definition

Key answer

Leading role is an O-1 / EB-1A criterion: you held a leading or critical role for an organization with a distinguished reputation. It is proven in two parts at once: your role was truly critical, and the organization is truly distinguished - both need documentary proof.

Show the role via the org chart, leadership letters and specifics: what depended on you and how it is measured. Show the organization via press, awards, numbers.

The title alone does not decide: officers accept non-top positions when critical influence is shown, and reject big titles without substance. Examples are in the AAO decisions database.

Leading role: the official source

Leading role: what to do - tools

Leading role: read next

Leading role: documents and templates from the library

Leading role: from community discussions

  • They require you to prove one thing, not a critical role and a leading role at once. Petitioner is not required to demonstrate that she or he played a leading or critical role for the entire organization, as long as he or she shows her critical role for a part of it, such as a laboratory, research group, or department.

    community member · retelling · from public community chats

  • «Can you use 1 company for 2 criteria? For example, worked at company X, and tie both a critical role AND contribution to that experience? Can one manager sign 2 recommendation letters for these different criteria? Or can the manager give 1 letter describing both the contribution and the critical role?»

    Olena · from public community chats

  • «In the vein of "I'm claiming the Critical role for the organisation criterion" - you need letters from rank-and-file employees. They, of course, don't get googled.»

    community member · from public community chats

Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.

Leading role: related terms

All glossary terms

A reference definition, not legal advice. Requirements and procedures depend on your case - verify on uscis.gov.

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