Seeking Advice on EB-1A RFE (Art Field)
Hi everyone,
I’m working in the art field and recently received an RFE for my EB1 petition. I previously got my O1 approved with the same law firm (different lawyer), but this time I’m feeling uncertain about how my case is being handled and would really appreciate any advice from people with similar experiences.
I reviewed the petition letter briefly before filing and had concerns that some parts were not comprehensive enough. My lawyer was very confident in the package, so I trusted their judgment. However, I received an RFE within 2 weeks after filing. I wasn’t able to find any record indicating that the IO on my case is killer.
Criteria claimed:
1.Leading role 2.Award 3.Membership 4. Media 5.Original contribution 6.Exhibition
RFE(5 out of 6):
1.award 2.Membership 3.Media 4.Oriiginal contribution 5.Exhibition
I’m particularly confused about how some evidence was prepared:
Awards:
The evidence submitted only included my certificate and the official website. There was no information about the scope of the award, judging criteria, selection process, number of applicants, or past winners.
Exhibitions:
The RFE seems templated, stating that the evidence does not establish that my work was presented at an “artistic exhibition or showcase.”
In the petition letter, the justification was very generic, something like:
“The exhibition meets the regulatory definition… held in an art environment, organized by an art association, at an exhibition venue.”
But these descriptions feel vague and unsupported, there was no concrete evidence explaining why these qualify as artistic exhibitions. Even I find it hard to understand how these were framed as such.
For the two criteria above, some of the evidence carries strong weight in the broader design field, while some may be more region specific or niche. However, I believe they are all valid and commonly accepted for an EB-1 case(Cause I 've also consulted with others who got O1 or EB1 in art field). That’s why seeing both criteria challenged in the RFE was particularly surprising to me.
My questions:
Are the issues I mentioned above common in EB-1 petition, or are they less typical?
At this stage, would you recommend switching lawyers or at least seeking a second opinion? Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙏