Are there any restrictions if the foreign company is state-owned?

There is no automatic restriction under EB-1 simply because the foreign company is state-owned. What determines the outcome of a petition is the strength of the evidence supporting the candidate’s profile, not the public or private nature of the company involved.

The EB-1 covers different profiles: individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers and professors, and executives or managers of multinational companies (the EB-1C category). In each case, the analysis focuses on what the candidate achieved and the role they held, not on the type of organization they were affiliated with.

When the company is state-owned, the review tends to be more thorough to understand the corporate structure and institutional relationship, particularly in EB-1C, where the connection between the foreign entity and the U.S. organization matters. Even so, being a state-owned entity does not prevent approval.

• State-owned status is not, in itself, a disqualifying factor.
• The weight of the case rests on evidence of the candidate’s role and achievements.
• In EB-1C, managerial experience and the link between the companies are key considerations.

Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth organizing documentation transparently and verifying the current requirements with USCIS or a trusted immigration 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.