On the leading or critical role EB-1A criterion

For the leading or critical role EB-1A criterion, you don’t currently have to be in a leading or critical role to meet the criterion.

You will however need to show that you have worked in a leading or critical role (or roles) in the past, and hopefully the recent past.

The same can be said for original contributions.

As long as you can show that you’ve made original contributions to your field, you do not currently have to be making original contributions. On this criterion especially, the contribution can be old as long as there are other elements that demonstrate sustained acclaim that are newer.

As an example, I work with a lot of scientists or enginers who made original contributions in the past, but have now moved up into corporate leadership roles. Those past contributions count, and the current roles show that they are at the top of their field with sustained acclaim.

-

A post by immigration lawyer Amber Davis (source).