O-1A scholarly articles: what counts and how to build it
Sai Veda
Approved for the O-1A twice. Updated October 2026.
You wrote scholarly articles in your field. They appeared in professional journals or in major media.
Based on 8 CFR 214.2(o)(3)(iii)(B)
My take
Papers helped my case a lot. Take something real you built, write it up, and send it to an IEEE conference or another respected venue; workshops are a good first step. A post on your own blog usually won't count.
What usually counts
- Peer-reviewed papers at conferences or in journals
- Workshop papers at respected conferences
- Articles you wrote for major trade publications or major media
What usually does not count
- Posts on your own blog, Medium or LinkedIn
- Articles on sites where anyone can publish without review
How to build it
- Choose one result. A method, a benchmark or a lesson from a real project are all good topics.
- Find a venue and its deadline. IEEE conferences and workshops are a good start. Note the page limit and the format.
- Write with an experienced coauthor. A person who has published before saves you weeks.
- Submit, then write the next one. One paper is a start. A few papers, and citations over time, are much stronger.
Proof to save
- The acceptance email
- The published paper
- Facts about the venue
- Citation counts over time
Questions
Do I need a PhD to publish papers?
No. I do not have a PhD. Engineers publish at IEEE conferences and workshops often, usually about systems they built.
Do LinkedIn posts or Medium articles count?
Usually not. Officers look for professional journals, trade publications or major media.
This is what worked for me, not legal advice. Talk to an immigration lawyer about your case.
Sources
Official rules this guide is based on. Check them, and ask your lawyer, before you file.