A judging seat at the competitions that count.
We connect you with high-value pitch competitions, secure your judging role, and deliver the recommendation letter and petition language USCIS expects.
30-minute intake · Written quote within 24 hours
Where you’ll take the panel.
A snapshot of the pitch competitions and accelerators in our network. Specific match is made on the intake call based on your field and timeline.
A complete exhibit, not just a seat.
Vetted competition match
Panel placement at a recognized pitch competition aligned to your field — not generic events that fail to satisfy USCIS.
Recommendation letter
Signed letter from the competition organizer documenting your judging role, the selectivity of the panel, and the impact of your evaluations.
Documentation pack
Agenda, panel bio listing, organizer correspondence — every artifact a USCIS adjudicator wants to see, formatted as a petition exhibit.
Petition language
Drafted paragraph for your petition letter that ties your judging role to the criterion, including selectivity and field-relevance arguments.
A clean Judging exhibit punches above its weight.
The Judging criterion requires “participation, either individually or on a panel, as a judge of the work of others in the same or an allied field.” Adjudicators reward selectivity, field-relevance, and verifiable documentation — three things ad-hoc judging gigs rarely deliver. Our placements are built backwards from the petition: every panel has the paper trail you need before you ever sit down.
Panel seats that closed real petitions.
I needed the Judging criterion checked off in 6 weeks. O-1 Assist placed me on a panel at a credible startup pitch competition and delivered a clean documentation pack — recommendation letter, agenda, organizer email — ready to drop into my petition.
Sarah K.
Founder, AI Startup
The judging slot they secured wasn't filler. It was a well-attended competition in my exact field, and the recommendation letter from the organizer ended up being one of the strongest pieces in my packet.
Daniel R.
Robotics Engineer
Three months before my filing deadline I was missing two criteria. They got me onto a judging panel and helped me draft the petition section that referenced it. Approved on first attempt.
Priya M.
Product Designer
Illustrative testimonials · Identities composited for privacy
Common questions
What kind of competitions do you place me in?
We work with high-signal pitch competitions, accelerators, and demo-day adjacent events. The match depends on your field — for technical founders we lean YC-adjacent / Techstars / SXSW Pitch / TechCrunch Disrupt; for non-tech, we use our broader competition network.
How does this satisfy the USCIS Judging criterion?
USCIS requires "participation as a judge of the work of others in the same or an allied field." Each placement is delivered with the organizer recommendation letter, panel agenda, your bio listing, and a drafted petition paragraph — together they form a complete exhibit.
How long does it take?
Most clients are seated on a panel within 4–6 weeks of intake. The timing depends on competition cadence in your field — we will give you a calendar of upcoming options on the call.
Will the recommendation letter be specific to me?
Yes. The organizer letter is signed, on letterhead, and references your specific role, the panel selectivity, and the substance of your evaluations. We coordinate with the organizer directly so the letter is petition-ready.
How is pricing structured?
Pricing is scoped on the call based on the number of judging engagements and the competition tier. Book a call and we will send a written quote within 24 hours.
Ready to close out the Judging criterion?
30-minute intake call. We scope your competition match, timeline, and quote within 24 hours.