A ‘Country Manager’ role overseeing a local subsidiary. Does it qualify for EB-1C?

It may well qualify. A Country Manager position overseeing a local subsidiary has strong potential for EB-1C. That said, eligibility does not come from the job title itself: it comes from the actual nature of the duties performed.

EB-1C is the pathway for executives and managers of multinational companies who are transferred to a U.S. operation in an equivalent role. To qualify, the person must have served in a managerial or executive capacity abroad within the same corporate group (a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary) and must assume comparable responsibilities in the U.S. position.

A Country Manager often meets the key criteria when genuinely leading the operation: setting strategy, directing the subsidiary, and holding broad decision-making authority. That is what the analysis looks for, rather than the title on the business card.

• What carries weight is the function being genuinely executive or managerial, not the job label.
• Prior experience abroad within the same corporate group is taken into account.
• The U.S. position must maintain equivalent responsibilities.

Because everything depends on the company’s structure and supporting documentation, each case is assessed individually. It is worth confirming the current criteria with USCIS or a qualified specialist before filing a petition.

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.