The official language for this criterion is: “Evidence of the alien’s participation on a panel, or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied field of specialization to that for which classification is sought.”
O‑1A Visa – Judge Criterion: In fields such as science, education, business, and athletics, there are numerous opportunities to serve as a judge or to be invited to evaluate the work of peers. USCIS values this criterion because if you are chosen to judge the work of others, it clearly indicates that you are recognized as an expert—enhancing your credibility as an O‑1A visa candidate.
Many top-tier professionals are routinely invited or even required to sit on panels evaluating the work of their colleagues. Demonstrating that you have served in this capacity, as a result of your extraordinary ability, is relatively straightforward for USCIS.
If you have not yet had the chance to judge the work of others, consider exploring ways to secure such opportunities. Think creatively—many clients are pleasantly surprised when they learn that pursuing judging roles can significantly strengthen their O‑1A case. Often, once you start working toward this, you may soon find yourself invited to serve on panels, especially if you can also document that other panel members are highly distinguished in your field.
We encourage you to reach out so we can help you identify which criteria best suit your profile and discuss the categories you might already satisfy. Many of our clients have engaged us early on to build a robust O‑1A petition, and some have even discovered they meet more than three of the required categories.
We’re thrilled you found our website and hope you find our O‑1 visa information helpful. When you’re ready to move forward, please email or call us for a free consultation to discuss your case.