Receiving recognition for your contributions to the global tech community is a deeply rewarding experience—especially when it comes from a company like Microsoft. I’m proud to share that I’ve been named a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Developer Technologies in 2024, a distinction I’ve admired since my early days as a developer. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the unboxing of the MVP award, explain what the MVP program is all about, how I earned this recognition, and what kind of benefits and responsibilities come with it. In addition, I will also explain the importance of having a rare developer award such as Microsoft MVP, Google Developer Expert or GitHub Stars for US & UK Extraordinary Talent Visas such as Global Talent Visa, EB1-A or EB2-NIW.
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What Is the Microsoft MVP Award?
The Microsoft MVP program is a global recognition initiative designed to honor exceptional, independent community leaders who share their knowledge and inspire others through various forms of contribution—whether through open-source projects, speaking engagements, blog posts, or other educational content.
Unlike the “Most Valuable Player” title you may know from NBA, the Most Valuable Professional award is granted to thousands of technologists around the world each year. Currently, there are around 3,000 active MVPs globally, spanning various technology areas.
My Journey to Becoming an MVP
This title has been a personal aspiration for many years. Back in my college days, I didn’t speak English fluently and followed Turkish tech bloggers for inspiration. One of them, Burak Selim Şenyurt, was a Microsoft MVP at the time and played a huge role in shaping my own journey. His work motivated me to start my own blog and begin sharing what I learned.
Years later, those community contributions became the foundation for this recognition.
What’s particularly encouraging is that you don’t need to focus solely on Microsoft technologies to qualify. I primarily contribute in the Python ecosystem—a language not originally developed by Microsoft—and yet the impact of those contributions was enough to be recognized.
How to Become a Microsoft MVP
The MVP award is not something you simply apply for on your own. You must be nominated—either by a current MVP or a Microsoft employee. Once nominated, you’ll be asked to submit a detailed profile of your community activities from the past 12 months. These can include:
- Open-source projects on GitHub,
- Technical blog posts or YouTube videos,
- Conference talks or webinars
In my case, I was nominated by a Microsoft employee and I submitted my contributions, including my GitHub repositories, blog posts, and YouTube content. The entire process—from nomination to acceptance—took about a month.
The MVP title is valid for one year, and you’ll need to continue contributing in order to be renewed annually.
Unboxing the Award
Upon receiving the award, Microsoft sends a beautiful crystal trophy. You’ll also receive:
- A year disc that attaches to the trophy to indicate the award year.
- Your name is listed in MVP official web site
- A digital certificate of recognition,
- An official recognition letter from Microsoft
These physical and digital items symbolize years of effort and are wonderful to display—whether on your desk or in your portfolio.
Extraordinary Talent Visas
Having a rare developer award such as Microsoft MVP, Google Developer Expert or GitHub Stars is a strong evidence for US & UK Extraordinary Talent Visas such as Global Talent Visa, EB1-A or EB2-NIW.
In the US EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) visa, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlines ten criteria for eligibility. Having an award fall directly under Criterion 1:
“Receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor.”
The MVP award is granted by Microsoft to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional expertise, leadership, and contributions to the technology community. It is selective, internationally recognized, and awarded based on concrete achievements and impact, not merely participation. In EB1-A petitions, USCIS evaluates awards based on their significance, the selection criteria, the number of recipients, and the level of competition. An award like MVP ticks all these boxes: it is prestigious, selective, and publicly recognized within the tech industry, making it strong evidence of extraordinary ability under Criterion 1.
Similarly, for the U.K. Global Talent Visa in the digital technology sector, recognition through awards is a key way to demonstrate leadership and excellence. Tech Nation’s mandatory criteria explicitly state:
“Mandatory criteria: How do I demonstrate that I have been recognised as (or recognised as having the potential to be) a leading talent in the digital technology sector in the last 5 years? You have received nationally or internationally recognised prizes or awards for excellence specifically in the digital technology sector, as evidenced by the award itself.”
TBH, I didn’t have MVP award when I applied but if I were reapplying for a UK Global Talent Visa, the digital certificate and letter would be incredibly valuable pieces of evidence for my application.
The Hidden Trick
The trick is that you can’t directly use your technical blog posts in your extraordinary talent visa applications (unless they’ve been cited by academic papers) because they are not peer reviewed. However, your technical blog and vlog can pave the way for awards like MVP or GDE — and these awards serve as strong evidence for your applications.
What Are the Perks of Being an MVP?
In addition to the honor of being recognized, MVPs gain access to a range of exclusive benefits:
- GitHub Copilot and GitHub Pro access
- LinkedIn Premium
- Azure credits
- Free access to (some) Microsoft technologies
And yes, you can also display the MVP badge on your blog, resume, or business card—it’s a strong signal of trust and recognition in the developer world.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a Microsoft MVP has been one of the most meaningful accomplishments in my career. It validates not just technical skill, but a commitment to community growth, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
If you’re someone who loves teaching others, building open-source tools, writing technical guides, or giving talks, you’re already on the right path. Stay consistent, be generous with your knowledge, and who knows—you might receive this honor one day too.
Don’t underestimate having a rare developer award like MVP is a very strong evidence for extraordinary talent visas.
Thanks for reading – and to everyone who’s supported me on this journey, thank you!
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