Can you serve as CEO abroad and in the U.S. at the same time without using the L-1?

As a general rule, it is possible to hold a CEO role abroad and in the United States simultaneously without going through an L-1. The L-1 is just one of several transfer pathways within a multinational company, not a requirement for holding dual executive positions.

When the goal is a Green Card through an executive career path, the relevant category is EB-1, specifically the EB-1C, designed for executives and managers of multinational companies. It does not require the candidate to leave the overseas role or formally change positions, but it does require demonstrating experience in an executive or managerial capacity and the existence of a qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity.

The sensitive point is documentation: holding leadership in more than one country is acceptable, provided that clear records show the duties performed in each location are executive or managerial in nature and that the corporate structure supports that relationship. The absence of an L-1 is not a problem in itself; what must be demonstrated is the full picture of the experience and the corporate structure.

• The L-1 is not required to hold an executive role in two countries.
• The EB-1C relies on executive experience and a qualifying relationship between the companies.
• Documentary proof of the role and the corporate structure is decisive.

Since the criteria are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, it is worth checking the updated requirements with USCIS and reviewing your specific situation with an 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.