Government grants count as awards for immigration petitions.Most people don't realize this.Research grants, innovation prizes, and government funding qualify as evidence of extraordinary ability for O-1 visas and EB-1 green cards. That NSF grant? Award evidence. SBIR funding? Counts. State innovation prize? Absolutely.But positioning grants correctly requires expertise. Immigration officers question whether funding constitutes a true "award" recognizing excellence versus routine program participation.We compared five immigration consultation firms that leverage government grants as O-1 evidence successfully. Here's who knows how to present funding as recognition.
Beyond Border excels at positioning government grants as extraordinary ability proof.Their team analyzes every grant you've received. Federal. State. Local. International. They determine which ones qualify as awards recognizing excellence.Beyond Border documents grant competitiveness thoroughly. Selection rates. Number of applicants versus awardees. Evaluation criteria emphasizing excellence.
They're exceptional at presenting SBIR and STTR grants as major awards. Phase I funding proves concept merit. Phase II demonstrates exceptional innovation. Beyond Border frames these as competitive national recognitions.For NIH grants, NSF awards, and DOE funding, they document rigorous peer review processes. These aren't handouts. They're competitive selections recognizing exceptional researchers.Their innovation prize documentation includes state technology awards, accelerator competition wins, and pitch competition prizes. Each gets framed as recognition of extraordinary achievement.
Initial consultation costs $200. O-1 petitions with grant evidence run $8,000 to $15,000. EB-1A cases cost $12,000 to $20,000. Beyond Border's grant analysis identifies which funding truly qualifies as award evidence and which doesn't. They don't waste weak evidence that triggers officer skepticism. Their selective approach strengthens overall petitions dramatically.
Have research grants or innovation prizes? Book a consultation with Beyond Border to evaluate their O-1 or EB-1 value.
Fragomen handles researchers and scientists with extensive grant portfolios regularly.They understand which government grants qualify as awards versus routine funding. Competitive merit-based selections count. Formula grants don't.
Fragomen documents grant prestige. Rankings of funding programs. Historical selection rates. Testimony from program officers about competitive nature.Their experience with academic researchers helps. They know NSF CAREER awards carry exceptional weight. NIH R01 grants demonstrate sustained excellence. DOE Early Career Awards prove extraordinary ability.
O-1 petitions cost $10,000 to $18,000. EB-1 petitions run $15,000 to $25,000. Fragomen's systematic approach works well for researchers with multiple grants needing organized presentation.
BAL brings analytical rigor to grant evidence evaluation.Their platform catalogs grants systematically. Amount. Awarding agency. Selection criteria. Success rates. Everything gets documented for presentation.
BAL calculates selection statistics. If 1,000 applied and you were among 50 selected, that's top 5 percent. Impressive evidence.They explain award versus funding distinctions clearly. Merit-based competitive selections are awards. Need-based or formula allocations aren't.
O-1 petitions cost $9,000 to $16,000. EB-1 cases run $13,000 to $22,000. BAL's technology helps organize complex grant portfolios efficiently.
Klasko handles sophisticated award evidence cases expertly.Their attorneys craft persuasive narratives around grants. They don't just list funding. They tell stories about recognition and selection.
Klasko coordinates with grant administrators obtaining letters documenting competitive selection processes. These testimonials strengthen petitions significantly.They're experts at combining grants with other evidence. Publications resulting from funded research. Patents developed through grants. Press coverage of grant-funded work.
O-1 consultations start at $500. Full petitions cost $12,000 to $22,000. EB-1 cases run $18,000 to $30,000. Klasko's premium approach suits high-stakes cases.
Murthy has extensive experience with researcher visa cases.They explain that major federal grants constitute awards recognizing extraordinary ability. NIH, NSF, DOE, and NASA competitive funding all qualify.
Murthy documents grant peer review rigor. Multiple expert evaluations. Strict scoring criteria. Low acceptance rates. These factors prove awards recognize exceptional merit.Their guidance on innovation competitions helps. State technology prizes. Startup pitch competition wins. University innovation awards. All potentially qualify.
O-1 petitions cost $8,500 to $14,000. EB-1 cases run $14,000 to $23,000. Murthy provides solid execution at reasonable pricing.
NSF grants with selection rates below 25 percent demonstrate exceptional merit. CAREER awards are particularly strong.
NIH R01 grants prove sustained research excellence. Early Stage Investigator awards show emerging leaders.
DOE funding for national lab research or university partnerships indicates recognition.
NASA grants for space research or technology development qualify.
SBIR and STTR Phase II funding proves innovation excellence after competitive Phase I selection.
State technology prizes recognizing innovation leadership count. Economic development grants for exceptional startups qualify. University innovation competitions with external judging work.
European Research Council grants demonstrate international recognition. National science foundation equivalents in other countries qualify. International collaboration funding through competitive processes counts.
Award letters stating selection from a competitive applicant pool. Statistics showing acceptance rates and number of applicants. Evaluation criteria emphasizing merit and excellence.
Program descriptions explaining national or international significance. Media coverage of grant announcements. Testimonials from program administrators about selectivity.
Letters from grant reviewers or program officers. Publications resulting from funded work. Impact statements showing research importance.
1.Do research grants count as awards for O-1 visas?
Yes, competitive research grants from federal agencies like NSF, NIH, and DOE count as award evidence for O-1 visas when documentation proves rigorous peer review, low acceptance rates, and merit-based selection recognizing excellence.
2.What makes a grant qualify as an award?
Grants qualify as awards when they involve competitive selection processes with low acceptance rates, merit-based evaluation criteria, peer review by experts, and recognition of exceptional ability rather than formula-based or need-based allocations.
3.Are SBIR grants considered awards for immigration?
Yes, SBIR Phase I and II grants are considered awards because they involve highly competitive selection from thousands of applicants, rigorous evaluation processes, and recognition of exceptional innovation and commercialization potential.
4.How do I prove grant competitiveness?
Prove grant competitiveness by providing award letters stating selection from competitive pools, program statistics showing acceptance rates under 25 percent, evaluation criteria emphasizing excellence, and testimonial letters from program administrators documenting selectivity.
5.Can state innovation prizes support O-1 petitions?
Yes, state innovation prizes can support O-1 petitions when properly documented as competitive awards recognizing exceptional achievement, including selection criteria, judging processes, media coverage, and evidence of regional or national recognition.
