My high salary is informal, with no contract. How can I prove it for EB-1?

When compensation is high but informal and undocumented by a contract, the key for the EB-1 is to gather indirect and consistent evidence that, taken together, demonstrates the reality and regularity of that income. The absence of a formal contract does not prevent you from establishing proof, but it does require more careful documentation.

In the EB-1, a compensation level that is high relative to peers can serve as one piece of evidence of exceptional professional achievement. Without a written contractual relationship, the goal is to build a verifiable paper trail showing that the payments exist and are recurring.

• Bank statements showing regular deposits consistent with the income claimed.
• Tax returns and tax records that reflect those earnings.
• Letters from clients or those who hire your services, confirming the amounts paid and the nature of the work.
• Statements from professionals or partners who can attest to your standing and the market rate for your work.

The more organized and coherent the documentation, the stronger the narrative. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth checking the current criteria on USCIS and aligning your evidence with a specialist before filing.

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.