Does a ‘manager’ role overseeing 2 employees and 3 contractors qualify for EB-1C?

It can, yes. The EB-1C category transfers executives and managers from a foreign company to a related operation in the United States, and the central criterion is not the number of subordinates, but the executive or managerial nature of the role you actually performed.

A manager leading a small team, such as a few employees and some contractors, may qualify as long as the role has genuine management substance: making strategic decisions, directing operations, being accountable for results and shaping the direction of the business, rather than simply carrying out operational tasks.

What the analysis examines is the substance of the position within the company’s structure. A lean team does not rule out eligibility, but it does require clear documentation showing that you exercised genuine managerial authority, both in the prior role abroad and in the U.S. operation.

Since each case is assessed individually by USCIS, the path forward is to gather solid evidence of the scope of your management and confirm the updated requirements, including the required experience, with a specialist before filing.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.