This requirement is satisfied when an applicant demonstrates significant original contributions in the fields of science, scholarship, or business. The law outlines this through four key components:
1. The applicant has produced original work
2. In a scientific, scholarly, or business context
3. That constitutes a major contribution
4. To their specific field
These points correspond directly to the law in the following manner:
1. "The applicant has produced original work" translates to: [Contribution Name, with detailed information].
2. "In a scientific, scholarly, or business context" translates to: [Contribution Name, with detailed information].
3. "That constitutes a major contribution" translates to: [Contribution Name, with detailed information].
4. "To their specific field" translates to: [Contribution Name, with detailed information].
This standard differs from other criteria because it does not segment neatly into discrete parts. USCIS recognizes its subjective nature and will, to some extent, rely on your own account. You must present a persuasive case that your contribution is both “original” and “major” even though these qualities can be difficult to substantiate. Often, the only evidence available is a publication linked to your contribution. Note that contributions in athletics are not considered.
EXAMPLES
For instance, if you were a member of a research team that authored a paper linking sugar consumption with AIDS contraction, this would serve as an example of meeting the criteria.
This requirement is rated at a level 5 difficulty, meaning that only a small number of O‑1A visa applicants fulfill it.
The challenge is greatest for those in scholarly and business areas, while scientific applicants tend to meet this requirement more frequently.