Short answer: Yes. A person without a Q1 publication may qualify for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver. USCIS does not impose a Q1-journal requirement or a minimum publication count. The case must still establish the underlying EB-2 classification and all three Matter of Dhanasar prongs with relevant, credible evidence.

For researchers, publications can help show a record of success and the ability to advance a proposed endeavor. A Q1 label may add context, but it does not decide the case. USCIS reviews what the work shows, how the applicant contributed, and how the record connects to the proposed work in the United States.

For a broader overview, see our EB-2 NIW eligibility guide and EB-2 NIW frequently asked questions.

At a glance Q1 publications and EB-2 NIW

Question	Short answer
Is a Q1 publication required for NIW?	No. USCIS has not established a separate Q1 requirement.
Does the absence of a Q1 paper cause an automatic denial?	No. USCIS evaluates the full record under the EB-2 and Dhanasar standards.
Can Q2, Q3, conference, or other publications be used?	Yes. Their relevance, the applicant’s contribution, and evidence of use or influence should be explained.
Can someone with no academic publications qualify?	Depending on the profile, yes. Patents, implementation, funding, progress, and third-party interest may provide other evidence.
Does a Q1 publication guarantee approval?	No. Even a strong publication cannot establish every NIW requirement by itself.

What a Q1 publication means

Q1 is a journal-level classification. In Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports, a journal receives a rank and quartile within each assigned subject category for a particular year. Q1 refers to the first quartile of category rank positions. Because ties can affect quartile distributions, Q1 does not always contain exactly 25 percent of the journals in a category.

The same journal may appear in more than one category and may have a different rank or quartile in each one. Its position may also change from year to year. A filing that relies on a Q1 designation should identify the database, subject category, metric year, and source date.

A journal ranking does not automatically measure the value of one article or the contribution of one author. Clarivate describes the Journal Impact Factor as a journal-level metric and cautions against using it as a substitute for evaluating an individual paper or researcher.

What USCIS evaluates in an EB-2 NIW case

The analysis has two stages. First, the petitioner must qualify for the underlying EB-2 classification as an advanced-degree professional or a person of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. A Q1 publication does not replace this threshold requirement.

After EB-2 eligibility is established, USCIS applies the three-prong framework from Matter of Dhanasar:

1.  The proposed endeavor must have substantial merit and national importance.

2.  The applicant must be well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor.

3.  On balance, it must benefit the United States to waive the job-offer and labor-certification requirements.

Publication history, citations, and journal context usually fit most naturally under the second prong. They may help document past success or outside recognition. They do not, by themselves, establish the future national importance of the endeavor or answer the third-prong balancing question.

You can review the Matter of Dhanasar decision for the governing three-part test.

Does USCIS require a Q1 publication

No. The current USCIS NIW framework does not create a minimum number of publications, citations, or Q1 papers. USCIS evaluates the evidence in the context of the applicant’s field, career, proposed endeavor, progress, and outside interest.

The USCIS Policy Manual gives non-exhaustive examples of evidence that may show a person is well positioned. In research cases, a publication and citation record may be useful. The guidance does not turn those examples into a checklist, and no single item is automatically required or sufficient.

USCIS’s official STEM question-and-answer material also explains that citations may be submitted as evidence, but are not required. The same logic applies to journal quartiles. The issue is what the evidence proves in the individual record.

Evidence that may support a case without Q1 publications

The goal is not to replace a missing Q1 paper with a large stack of unrelated documents. Each exhibit should support a specific factual point and connect to one or more Dhanasar prongs.

Past achievements and measurable results

• Methods, products, systems, or technical solutions that others implemented
• Patents, licenses, commercialization, or technology-transfer records
• Measured project outcomes or independently verified performance improvements
• Competitive research funding and evidence of the applicant’s role
• Contributions to an industry standard, clinical practice, or policy initiative

Progress toward the proposed endeavor

• Pilot projects, prototypes, validation results, or proof-of-concept work
• A practical technical roadmap and specific implementation plan
• Existing collaborations and access to the resources needed for the work
• Correspondence from prospective U.S. users, institutions, customers, or collaborators

Independent interest and verification

Useful evidence may include records showing that others used the work, expert letters with concrete examples, institutional support, contracts, licenses, or documented customer interest. Expert letters should explain how the writer knows the field and what verifiable facts support the opinion. General praise carries less weight than specific, corroborated evidence.

Evidence for researchers and industry professionals

Researchers may naturally rely on publications, citations, peer review, grants, conference selection, and independent scientific use. The filing should still explain the applicant’s personal contribution, especially for multi-author work. Our EB-2 NIW guide for academics discusses research-focused evidence in more detail.

Industry professionals and research-based entrepreneurs may have a different record. Implemented projects, patents, product adoption, customer or user interest, critical responsibilities, contracts, and a scalable U.S. plan may be more natural evidence. Academic metrics should not be forced into a profile when they do not reflect the person’s actual work.

For the larger filing sequence, see our EB-2 NIW application-process guide.

When a Q1 publication may strengthen the record

A Q1 publication may add useful context when the paper directly relates to the proposed endeavor, the applicant’s individual contribution is documented, and the work generated independent interest or use. The journal’s classification should come from a reliable source and identify the relevant year and category.

The strongest presentation moves beyond the label. It explains what the paper contributed, who relied on it, how the applicant’s role is shown, and why that record supports the ability to advance the proposed U.S. endeavor.

What a Q1 publication does not prove by itself

• That the proposed endeavor has national importance
• That the applicant made the central contribution to a multi-author paper
• That other researchers or organizations adopted or relied on the work
• That the applicant is well positioned based on the full record
• That waiving the job-offer and labor-certification requirements benefits the United States
• That USCIS must approve the petition

Common mistakes in cases without Q1 publications

• Trying to offset the lack of a Q1 paper with numerous weak or unrelated exhibits
• Treating a resume as a substitute for evidence of impact
• Confusing the importance of a broad field with the national importance of the specific proposed endeavor
• Relying on recommendation letters that offer praise without verifiable examples
• Failing to connect past achievements to the future U.S. plan
• Assuming that no publication requirement means that supporting evidence is unnecessary
• Using a current journal ranking for an older paper without identifying the relevant year

Checklist before filing

1.  Identify the evidence that establishes the underlying EB-2 classification.

2.  Define the proposed endeavor in concrete terms.

3.  Support the endeavor’s broader prospective impact with reliable sources.

4.  Connect past achievements and current progress to the future U.S. plan.

5.  Document independent interest from people or organizations outside the applicant’s immediate circle.

6.  Explain which Dhanasar prong each major exhibit supports.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Q1 publication mandatory for an EB-2 NIW petition

No. USCIS does not state a Q1-publication requirement or a minimum number of Q1 papers.

Can someone with no academic publications obtain an NIW

Depending on the profile, yes. Patents, implementation, project results, funding, critical roles, institutional interest, and other evidence may support the case.

Can Q2 or Q3 journal articles be used

Yes. The filing should explain the work’s relevance, the applicant’s contribution, and any documented use or influence. The quartile does not determine admissibility or weight by itself.

Does a Q1 publication guarantee NIW approval

No. A Q1 paper may be one part of the record. The petitioner must separately establish the underlying EB-2 classification and all three Dhanasar prongs.

Can conference papers support an NIW case

They may. Relevant context can include the conference’s selectivity, the paper’s connection to the endeavor, the applicant’s role, and documented interest from the field.

Can a patent replace a Q1 publication

A patent may be useful evidence, but issuance alone does not establish an NIW case. The filing should connect the patent to the proposed endeavor, actual or prospective use, and the claimed impact.

Can expert letters make up for the lack of publications

Specific, expertise-based letters can strengthen a record when independent documents support them. Letters containing only broad praise may receive limited weight.

Does USCIS require a particular publication or citation count

The NIW framework does not establish a fixed publication or citation threshold. USCIS evaluates the evidence together and in the circumstances of the case.

Which year should be used to show a journal’s Q1 status

Identify the database, subject category, and metric year that supports the claim. Journal rankings can change across years and categories.

Bottom line

A person without a Q1 publication may still present a viable EB-2 NIW case. The decisive work is to establish the underlying EB-2 classification and connect reliable evidence to each Dhanasar prong. A Q1 paper may help in the right context, but its absence does not cause an automatic denial and its presence does not guarantee approval.

You can contact Clinch Law for an individualized evaluation of how your education, experience, proposed endeavor, and evidence fit the NIW framework.