Is ‘high salary’ relative if my country generally pays less?

In the EB-1, the ‘high salary’ criterion is not evaluated solely by comparison with your home country’s average. What matters is how your compensation ranks against industry standards and relevant international benchmarks for your profession.

In other words, even if salaries in your country are generally lower, what counts is demonstrating that you are among the top earners within your field, taking into account the appropriate context. It helps to present that data with supporting references, such as:

• Comparisons with industry standards in your region and abroad.
• Market data that contextualizes your compensation.
• Documents that prove the amounts received.

Keep in mind that salary is only one of the indicators considered in the EB-1. It carries weight as part of a broader picture, alongside publications, awards, achievements, and other outstanding contributions in your field.

Since each case is evaluated individually by USCIS, it is worth contextualizing the salary aspect clearly and verifying updated requirements at the official source or with a specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.