NYC Hackathon Judging Opportunities in 2026 to Boost Your Career and Visa Profile

There are several hackathon judging opportunities coming up for foreign nationals in New York City. As one of the tech industry hubs, the Big Apple continues to offer vibrant career opportunities for both entry level and experienced professionals. For those looking to build their visa profiles, securing judging roles remains an important way to demonstrate expertise and industry engagement and could help you fulfill some of the evidentiary requirements for the EB-1, EB-2, and O-1 visas.

Below are a curated selection of NYC-based hackathon judging opportunities coming up in 2026. We’ll update this list as new events continue to pop up. 

NYC Hackathon Judging Opportunities to Boost Your Profile

Mouse AI League

• Open to judge: Yes
• Venue: Various NYC Public School locations
• What to expect: The Mouse AI League allows industry leaders to serve as mentors and panelists for public middle and high school students in New York City.

NYEdTech Hackathon

• Open to judge: Yes 
• Venue: Virtual
• What to expect: This New York-based, 30-day virtual hackathon focuses on incorporating cutting edge technology to education. You don’t need to be a teacher to participate either — startup founders, industry workers, and venture capitalists are welcome.

United Hacks V6

• Open to judge: Yes (email organization to sign up)
• Venue: Virtual
• What to expect: This 72-hour virtual hackathon welcomes innovators to showcase their technical and presentation skills as they collaborate on team projects. Judges evaluate entries based on their creativity, depth, and quality.

Future events to watch out for

Below are popular, NYC-based hackathon events that do not have open judge calls yet. However, you should keep track of these in case future opportunities arise.

Flushing Tech BiWeekly Hackathon 

• Open to judge: Reach out to inquire.
• Venue: Tech Incubator at Queens College
• What to expect: This collegiate hackathon welcomes anyone in the tech industry to meet up, build projects, and vote on the best one. 

HackNYU

• Open to Judge: Reach out to inquire.
• Venue: Tandon School of Engineering
• What to expect: This student-hosted, 48-hour hackathon invites students interested in the tech industry to work in a team and create projects.   

Urban Futures: Climate Resilience Hackathon

• Open to Judge: Reach out to inquire.
• Venue: The American Museum of Natural History
• What to expect: Hosted by Columbia University’s LEAP program, this hackathon aims to create data-driven solutions to combat climate change.

Designpreneurs Hackathon

• Open to Judge: Open interest portal for those interested in judging.
• Venue: Various locations.
• What to expect: Designpreneurs partners with industry leaders like OpenAI, Adobe, and Meta to provide hackathon, panel, and networking opportunities for those in the tech industry. 

Why join judging opportunities at hackathons

Outside of professional fulfillment, judging experience shows that you are recognized within your industry. This can be valuable evidence when building your profile, especially if you’re thinking of applying for a merit-based category such as the EB-1, EB-2 NIW, or O-1. You can potentially meet one of the extraordinary or exceptional ability criteria by serving as a panelist or evaluator. 

Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says that judging experience can help convince the officer reviewing your case of your qualifications for a visa based on extraordinary or exceptional ability. “One of the biggest reasons why people get RFEs is when you meet three out of the total criteria, but the officer just doesn’t think you’ve met the complete standards of a merit-based visa or Green Card,” she says. “Yes, you’re not required to have judging experience as part of your application. But having that under your belt can help an officer reach a favorable conclusion. It shows that you are a trusted expert in your field”

How to find hackathon judging opportunities

For smaller events, organizers often announce calls for judges through:

• Event pages, such as Devpost or Luma
• Social media platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn
• Official hackathon website portals

Make sure you follow hackathon groups and their organizers to discover opportunities early. Platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and X are often some of the first places where open judging calls are announced.

If you’re interested in a hackathon that doesn’t have an open judging call, networking with industry peers may help. Connecting with event planners can be a great way to show them your qualifications as a tech industry leader. You should:

• Reach out with event planners about future opportunities
• Consider participating in hackathons as a contestant
• Continue to build your profile

What hackathon judging opportunities to avoid

Do not enroll in any hackathon judging opportunities that ask you to send money. Most people call this practice “pay-to-play,” and including one such event could actually hurt your profile. Urizar recommends to steer clear of these events and wait for legitimate judging opportunities to arise. “USCIS officers are going to verify if any of your evidence could be considered illegitimate,” she says. 

How to make the most of NYC hackathon judging opportunities

Before reaching out/applying to a judging opportunity:

1. Research the event: Understanding how your expertise aligns with the hackathon’s goals helps organizers know you’re a good fit
2. Gather your application materials: Update your resume, portfolio, and professional social media accounts
3. Write an enticing introduction or cover letter: Be specific about your skills and accomplishments

During a judging opportunity event:

• Document your offer letter: This can be useful in helping immigration officers know you actually did participate in an event
• Gather evidence of your participation as a judge: Pictures, flyers judging materials, and affidavits from event organizers are excellent forms of proof
• Remain friendly and professional: Arrive on time, and network with your peer panelists.

After a judging opportunity:

• Thank the event organizers: Feel free to ask for an affidavit or recommendation letter if you haven’t already
• Connect on LinkedIn with a custom message: This shows you’re interested in working together in the future
• Reach out to an immigration attorney: They can offer you advice on how to best present your judging experience to a USCIS officer

How an immigration attorney can help

Most people don’t need an immigration lawyer to find judging opportunities. However, coordinating with one can help you tailor the evidence you’ll submit to USCIS. They can also offer you:

• Advice on what events are not useful for your profile
• Insights on how to best document and present your judging experience
• Tips on how to file and present your application

Manifest Law’s immigration attorneys in New York City are no different. They can offer you the above services, plus the ability to tailor your judging, networking, and awards into compelling petitions. Proving your extraordinary ability shouldn’t be hard, and working with a Manifest lawyer can help you secure your next merit-based visa or Green Card. 

Attending or judging at a NYC-based hackathon soon? Request a consultation with Manifest to get tailored feedback on your case and how to strengthen it.