I want to understand how USCIS logic works when a person applies under a bunch of criteria at the same time. I’ve heard the opinion that if you claim 7–8 criteria at once, the officer may be skeptical — as if you’re asking for too much. Is that realistic or is it a myth? In general, for EB-1 which criteria does USCIS count in such cases — do they look at each one separately or does the overall picture also matter?
Detailed breakdown of the topic: EB-1A: 10 types of evidence, which 3 you need
Skepticism about the number of criteria is a myth. The officer assesses each criterion independently, and if at least three are met, that’s enough. But a weak fourth or fifth criterion can really hurt: if it’s clearly a stretch, it signals that the applicant isn’t confident in their position, and the officer starts re-examining the strong criteria too.
Listen, that’s exactly it — when I applied the first time I stuffed in everything I could, like the more the better. But the lawyer later said that two of my “criteria” were so weak that the officer probably started doubting the rest because of them. The second time we submitted only four, but each was rock-solid — and it passed. Better fewer, but so they can’t pick it apart.