O-1A vs. EB-2 NIW: how the evidence frameworks differ

O-1A extraordinary ability is a nonimmigrant classification assessed against eight evidentiary criteria at 8 CFR 214.2(o)(3)(iii) — awards, memberships, press, judging, original contributions, scholarly articles, critical roles, and high remuneration. The petition must satisfy at least three.

EB-2 NIW is an immigrant petition assessed under the three-prong Dhanasar framework: substantial merit and national importance of the proposed endeavor; the applicant being well positioned to advance it; and, on balance, a benefit to the United States from waiving the job-offer requirement.

Much of the underlying evidence overlaps — publications, citations, judging, critical roles feed both frameworks — but the mapping differs: O-1A rows are criterion-by-criterion, while NIW rows organize the same record around one proposed endeavor.

Which route fits a given record is a legal judgment for an immigration attorney. visaforge maps your evidence to whichever route YOU select; we never recommend a route.