Now that expert opinion letter (EOL) has transitioned from being a supporting DOCUMENT & instead serves as the foundation of an applicant’s EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) or O-1 Petition, it has become essential that USCIS Officers use Expert Opinion Letters (EOLs) to provide them with the true value of a petitioner’s work (national importance) along with the Applicant’s ability to perform exceptional or extraordinary achievements.
Selecting the appropriate Expert Opinion Letter Services is crucial, going with the wrong one could lead to a long Request for Evidence (RFE) instead of a smooth approval process. Below, we present a detailed, research-based evaluation of the most reputable EOL providers, highlighting USCIS trends and explaining how each provider’s Expert Opinion Letters can influence an applicant’s case outcome based on the specific visa category.
Why Do You Need Expert Opinion Letter Services?
USCIS is looking for a qualified individual to provide impartial, objective, & reasonable third-party analysis of your work who will provide an expert opinion letter on the findings of your research or project.
An Effective Expert Opinion Letter –
- Explains the nature of your research or project in layman’s terms (i.e no jargon)
- Provides a direct relationship to the Dhanasar Criteria for EB-2 NIW
- Demonstrates the national or global importance of your work as well as an ability to anticipate
- Address any concerns that the USCIS may have with your findings.
The Importance of Independent Experts –
Letters of recommendation from:
- Your supervisor
- A co-founder
- A close collaborator
Usually aren’t as valued as letters of recommendation from experts who are independent of your organization.
University professors, senior researchers and leaders in your industry can validate your qualifications objectively, and therefore provide USCIS with the most reliable verification possible.
Top 5 Expert Opinion Letter Services Providers
1. Document Evaluation
Document Evaluation focuses specifically on Expert Opinion Letters prepared for EB-2 NIW & O-1 visa applications. The USCIS requires strong evidence of national importance & independent validation from experts, and as such, Document Evaluation does not use generic, “canned” templates, instead each letter produced is written specifically for the individual applicant based on the applicant’s professional qualifications, proposed activity within the US & the long-term impact of that activity on the United States.
One of Document Evaluation’s notable strengths is its familiarity with & understanding of the three criteria that USCIS uses to evaluate an NIW case, known as the Dhanasar prongs. Each letter articulates to the USCIS that the applicant’s engaging in work within the United States is beneficial to the United States, that the applicant’s planned activity will benefit society as a whole & that a waiver of the job offer requirement is warranted.
The experts who are chosen to provide letters on behalf of the applicant have been selected from United States universities or senior level positions within the industry in which the applicant plans to work, ensuring that the document is from an Independent & Credible Source.
Because of the detailed nature of the Document Evaluation approach, Document Evaluation tends to be the best choice for self-petitioners & for the more complicated cases and responses to Requests for Evidence (RFE), where clear & accurate legal arguments and strong national interest arguments are required to achieve success.
Explore this service: Document Evaluation: Best Credential Evaluation Services USA
2. Morningside Evaluations
Morningside Evaluations, an established company that provides a VARIETY of academic & professional evaluations, has been providing excellent Expert Opinion Letters for many years. The company uses a highly structured and formal letter format to meet the needs of applicants with traditional academic backgrounds or those facing straightforward immigration cases.
Morningside has access to a large network of experts, which improves the credibility of their Expert Opinion Letter assessments. However, because Morningside handles a high volume of cases, it often provides less personalized letters, especially for EB-2 NIW applicants who must explain complex proposed endeavors and clearly establish their contributions to the national interest.
For most applications, Morningside is a good choice for providing an acceptable standard academic evaluation. However, applicants filing complex NIW petitions often need to supplement a standard Expert Opinion Letter with additional, customized information that goes beyond the standard format.
Explore this service: Morningside Evaluations
3. Park Evaluations
Park Evaluations specializes in the types of JOBS that require a particular level of expertise, such as engineering, science and advanced technology-related fields. The Expert Opinion Letters (EOL) that Park Evaluations provided typically contain substantial amounts of technical detail. When USCIS requires clarification on a particular project due to its specialized nature, the use of EOLs can help provide that clarification and demonstrate the applicant’s substantial level of expertise.
In addition, immigration lawyers frequently use Park Evaluations when responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs). As these cases require in-depth subject-matter expertise and detailed explanations to meet USCIS requirements. On the other hand, the extensive depth of EOLs results in longer processing times, especially in the case of National Interest Waiver (NIW) applications that require both substantial technical and national interest framing evidence.
In addition, immigration lawyers frequently use Park Evaluations when responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), as these cases require in-depth subject-matter expertise and detailed explanations to meet USCIS requirements.
Explore this service: Park Evaluations
4. Trustforte Corporation
Trustforte Corporation produces Expert Opinion Letters. These letters are written by high-level business professionals or executives and help validate a person’s professional credentials, as well as provide some degree of validation to a person’s petition for an O-1 Visa.
Trustforte Expert Opinion Letters cover areas related to the individual’s influence on their industry, leadership roles in their industry, and achievements in their careers. Trustforte Expert Opinion Letters may be used for O-1 Visa applications when the applicant meets the criteria of having distinction and recognition in their field.
Trustforte’s services tend to be on the higher end price wise and may not be appropriate for early-career individuals or people with small budgets.
Trustforte services are best suited for candidates with established professional profiles who are seeking validation from individuals in senior-level positions within their industry.
Explore this service: The Trustforte Corporation
5. Silvergate Evaluations
Silvergate Evaluations offers basic document services, such as Expert Opinions for H1B, L1 and Standard Work Experience Cases. Their services are cost effective and generally easy to use and are therefore a possible option for routine immigration cases.
Through the provision of basic Document Services, including Expert Opinions that meet minimum USCIS Standards, Silvergate provides an adequate service for many employers. However, SILVERGATE’s Expert Opinion Letters do not adequately represent the complexities inherent in the NIW process for the EB2 category, in which the applicant must clearly demonstrate that their work is of National Importance and will ultimately Benefit the long-term Interest of the United States.
While Silvergate serves employers well in straightforward employment-based cases, applicants pursuing NIW or O-1 visas typically benefit more from using a specialized document service.
Explore this service: Silvergate Evaluations
Comparison Table Who Should You Choose?
| Service Provider | Best For | Turnaround Time | Customization Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document Evaluation | EB-2 NIW and O-1 RFE cases | 2 to 5 Days | Ultra High |
| Morningside | Academic Evaluations | 5 to 7 Days | Medium |
| Park Evaluation | Specialty Occupations | 7+ Days | High |
| Trustforte | Executive O-1 Visas | 7 to 10 Days | High |
| Silvergate | H-1B and Work Experience | 3 to 5 Days | Medium |
Choose the Appropriate Expert Opinion Letter Services for Your Situation
Review the Expert Profile
Confirm –
- The expert is a professor, senior researcher or industry leader
- The expert has related field expertise
- The expert is not affiliated with the company that is your employer
Confirm USCIS Compliance for –
Letter should –
- Clearly state how the Letter satisfies Dhanasar prongs for EB-2 NIW
- Clearly state how your work will benefit the whole country of the United States
- No claim should be made that is inflated or unsupported
- A service that provides Expert Opinion Letters using template-based services:
- Low pricing that is cheaper than average
- Does not require detailed information to be filled out
- Uses a combination of generic language found on multiple websites.
USCIS officers may view such letters as less persuasive, which can increase scrutiny or follow-up requests.
Tip – Write the Expert Opinion Letter as if you were to submit it as a professional evaluation, and not as a recommendation.
In Conclusion!
Expert Opinion Letters have transformed from being optional supplements to strategic legal documents that must conform with all facets of USCIS criteria in terms of EB-2 NIW and O-1 Visa applications.
It is important to select an organization with expertise in Immigration Law, National Interest Standard & Professional Credibility. Applicants should choose a service that best aligns with their case complexity, budget, and visa category. Higher probability of approval when supported by strong, compliant documentation
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. USCIS decisions vary based on individual case facts.
Frequently Asked Questions !
Qualified experts, such as university or medical school professors and senior industry professionals with high-level expertise in the applicant’s field must prepare Expert Opinion Letters for EB2 NIW cases. These experts must remain independent of the applicant’s working relationships.
A complete Expert Opinion letter concerning EB2 NIW must contain information about the applicant's work, how it contributes to the National Interest of the USA, why it meets the prongs required in Dhanasar, and why this applicant has the potential to contribute greatly to this work.
No. The EB2 NIW Visa and the O1 have distinct "legal" standards. So, you cannot take an Expert Opinion Letter created for one visa and use it for the other visa; therefore, Expert Opinion Letters need to be tailored specifically for the various BiV and USCIS criteria.
Most approved EB2 NIW Applications tend to have approximately two to four Expert Opinion Letters supporting their case. This is because the number will be directly proportional to the complexity of the case, along with the strength of the evidence that is provided to support the case.
The time depends on many factors including how long it takes for the expert to review your case and prepare a letter based on your individual situation. Most providers will perform this service within 2-10 business days. However, if a provider needs to customize a letter based on their review of the case, it may take longer.