Crafting the Ultimate EB-1A Petition Letter

Use a litigation-style outline to link each exhibit to the criteria and build a final merits narrative that feels inevitable.

Forget everything you know about cover letters. The EB-1A petition letter is your legal brief, personal narrative, and roadmap for the adjudicator. It must prove two things:

Checklist: You meet at least three criteria.
Holistic view: Taken together, your achievements place you at the very top of your field.

Anatomy of a winning petition letter

Part 1: The introduction

State your purpose, self-petitioning basis, and list the specific criteria you will argue.

“This letter and the accompanying evidence support my petition for classification as an Alien of Extraordinary Ability (EB-1A) pursuant to INA § 203(b)(1)(A). I will demonstrate that I meet the required criteria: Prizes or Awards, Membership, Published Material About You…”

Part 2: Criterion-by-criterion argument

For each criterion:

State the criterion using the official name.
Present your evidence with explicit exhibit references.
Explain the evidence and its significance in plain English.
Connect to the standard and make the legal link explicit.

Part 3: The Final Merits Determination

Zoom out and connect the dots. Summarize your most powerful evidence and argue that your sustained acclaim and impact place you among the very top of the field.

Part 4: Future benefit and conclusion

State intent to continue in your field and the benefit to the U.S., then close politely.

Pro-tips for maximum impact

Add a Table of Exhibits after the introduction.
Write with confident, factual tone; guide the reader with headings.
Prioritize clarity: bolding, bullets, and short paragraphs help the adjudicator stay oriented.

Your petition letter is your voice in a silent process. Structure it like a brief, tie every exhibit to a point, and tell a cohesive story of extraordinary ability.