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RFE objection "both elements are not proven": how it was answered

Key answer

The officer points out that evidence is needed both of the income itself and of its being significantly high relative to the market. Submit a set of contracts, payments, tax documents, and market comparisons, explaining how each piece of evidence satisfies the criterion.

The objection belongs to the "High remuneration" criterion. Below is what the community did to close it: the order of steps, the documents that were attached and the wording that went into the answer.

Steps that closed it

  1. Divide the criterion into two elements: high level of compensation and the connection between that compensation and the applicant's professional activity
  2. Show that the applicant's income is significantly higher than the typical level for similar professionals in the same country, industry, position, and period
  3. Confirm each income source with primary documents: contracts, payroll records, tax forms, bank statements, invoices
  4. Add independent market data: salary surveys, industry reports, government statistics, recruiting platform data
  5. Create a comparison table: applicant - market median - top percentile - data source
  6. Explain nonstandard payments: bonuses, stock options, royalties, fees, awards, project shares
  7. Exclude unverified amounts, personal transfers, passive income, and income not connected to the claimed field
  8. Prepare a brief explanation of why the submitted documents prove both elements of the criterion

What was attached

  • Employment agreements or contracts showing the position, period, amount, and duties
  • Payroll records, income statements, tax returns, or reporting forms
  • Bank statements showing deposits that match the contracts and payment documents
  • Invoices and completion certificates for project-based or consulting income
  • Documents on bonuses, commissions, royalties, stock options, or other payments
  • Independent salary studies for the same profession, region, and period
  • Comparison table calculating annual income and linking to sources
  • Explanatory letter with the logic for meeting the criterion

How the answer was worded

The submitted documents confirm that the applicant received compensation for professional activity in the claimed field, and the independent comparative data shows that the amount of this compensation significantly exceeds the ordinary pay level for comparable professionals in the same industry and period.

A pattern, not a template to copy: the wording only works with your own facts behind it.

Where to check this

Other objections on this criterion

Reference information and community experience, not legal advice. The AAO figures are lessons from appeals, not approval odds; fees and timelines change - verify on uscis.gov.