Why I chose 5 criteria (and why you should choose 3)
The legal requirement for EB-1A is 3 out of 10 criteria. That's it.
Most people think more criteria = stronger case. It doesn't. More criteria often means a diluted case. You spread your evidence thin. Your narrative wanders. The USCIS officer has to follow five different threads instead of three clear, well-supported ones.
Start your first draft with 3 criteria.
Why? Because it forces discipline:
- You pick your strongest arguments
- Each criterion gets more evidence and a deeper narrative
- The cover letter stays focused and easy to follow
- You can always add more later
The exercise:
Write down all the criteria you think you might qualify for. Then rank them by one question only:
"How much clear, verifiable, third-party evidence do I have for this?"
Not "could I maybe argue this?" Not "my friend said this counts." How much evidence do you actually have, right now, that a stranger could verify?
Your top 3 are your criteria. Start there.
When to go beyond 3:
I filed my EB-1A with 5 criteria. I had genuine, defensible evidence for all five. My case spanned 15 years across three countries, so I had enough material. And I was self-petitioning without a lawyer, so I wanted margin for error.
If you're in a similar position -- strong evidence across multiple criteria and you want a safety net -- go for 4 or 5. But don't start there. Build the backbone around 3 rock-solid criteria first, then expand only if you have real evidence (not wishful thinking) for more.
Restraint signals confidence. A focused petition says "I know exactly why I qualify." A scattered one says "I'm hoping something sticks."