✅ EB-1A: approval
The author received EB-1A approval after a denial and an RFE by changing the approach and working with a new team.
Case parameters
Service center: Nebraska
Criteria claimed: 6
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✓Critical role
Claimed
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✓Judging
Judge in two competitions, audit and peer review of articles
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✓Media
5 major + 1 niche over 2 years
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✓Scholarly articles
6 pieces over 2 years
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✓Awards
1
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✓Salary
Claimed
How it all happened
Hi everyone! I want to share some happy news! Just a couple of weeks ago I received the long-awaited EB1A approval. Field: HR, the case was sent to Nebraska. Like many of you, the journey was long, unpredictable and difficult. The first case was prepared with lawyers; there were a lot of formalities (chat only once a week, calls not allowed, very formal communication). They counted 3 criteria but cited insufficient evidence of being at the very top. First there was an RFE, then a denial (end of July). Officer 1960 - Texas. I was upset then, but now I understand you must never give up — an RFE often points to exactly where you need to strengthen the case; it’s a valuable hint. Even at the RFE stage I realized that I needed to prepare the second case with people who would approach the task wholeheartedly and focus on results. As you can guess, that’s hard to get from attorneys. By chance I met a very cool Ira @lulu499 in another chat, who pointed me to this chat. Ira truly played a huge role in the success of this case with her support, advice and openness. Joining this chat I started following it and the answers from Egor @e_akimov, joined the calls, and realized I wanted to prepare the second case with him and his team. In the second case we refined the criteria, added more materials, strengthened points, rewrote everything 100%, including a new detailed section on Final Merits. It’s as long as a standalone memorandum. In the end we filed for: 1) Critical role 2) Judging (judge in two competitions, audit and peer review of articles) 3) Media (5 major + 1 niche) over 2 years 4) Scholarly articles (6) over 2 years 5) Awards (1) 6) Salary + a large Final Merits section. NOT INCLUDED: Contributions, Associations, Exhibitions. The team did a great job on strategy and understanding what the officer wants to see and where the gaps are. Egor and his team were always in touch, and for me that was the biggest support. I felt I wasn’t alone in this and the team really understands the topic. No wonder — Egor has built such a knowledge base and analyzes new cases and RFEs weekly. Egor, huge thanks to you and your team! Ira, special thanks to you, you’re the best. I can’t wait until we meet in the US. I wish everyone to reach the cherished approval, and if that requires going through a denial like I did, don’t stay upset for long — try again and again. Between the denial and the approval for me it was 5 months, of which about two at the start I spent gathering my thoughts and agonizing over whether to try again and whether O-1 was the right path instead. We spent another two months revising the case and now I understand it was not in vain. Ahead is consular processing, but that’s another story and another set of rules. I hope I’ll handle it. Wishing everyone a successful 2026 — don’t give up or lose heart. You’re all pros at what you do; now you just need to prove it to the USCIS officers. I know what a hard path this is, don’t give up! Good luck to all.
Main insight
“It’s important not to give up after a denial and to seek new approaches and support for a successful outcome.”
A (@aichurek_n)
Author of the story
A (@aichurek_n), from the @talentvisahelp chat. Original message in the chat.
Useful on the topic
All information about O-1 / EB-1A / EB-2 NIW
More success stories and denials: channel @o1eb1