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How many criteria to claim: three or more?

Key answer

Three is the minimum, but the community almost unanimously advises claiming extra: officers routinely dismantle half the claimed criteria, and the buffer saves the case. The flip side - weak criteria dilute the impression. Working practice: claim four to six strong ones and push minor items into the closing summary.

Community answers

The answers below are translated from the original Russian - the language of the community chats.

  • In addition to three criteria, there is also a 'general impression' - sustained success, top of the top. And experience shows that refusals can happen even with four or five counted. Submitting three and 'securing' three is a big luck.

  • It is really difficult to prove the criteria: people submit 7-8, get one counted, while the others are completely rejected. Therefore, everyone tries to elaborate as much as possible so that at least something stands firm.

  • Strength of evidence. You can formally close many criteria, but if each has weak evidence, the officer at the final merits stage may find that there is no sustained acclaim. It is better to have strong criteria with several solid episodes in each (for example, several judging and awards of different levels over different years) than many empty checkmarks.

The answers are anonymized community experience from the public chats, not legal advice. Officers may decide similar cases differently.

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A reference page built from community experience, not legal advice. Requirements and practice change - verify on uscis.gov.

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