Does my managerial time abroad and my time in the U.S. add up for the EB-1C?

No. For the EB-1C category, which covers multinational managers and executives, what matters is the managerial or executive experience exercised outside the United States within a recent qualifying period. Time you have already worked in the U.S. does not count toward that foreign requirement.

The logic of the category is to demonstrate that you held a substantial leadership role at a company related to the one making the transfer, and that experience must have taken place abroad. Time worked inside the United States, even in an equivalent position, is treated separately and does not satisfy the foreign requirement.

• The qualifying experience must have been exercised outside the United States.
• Time in the U.S. is not added to the period spent abroad.
• The role must be managerial or executive in nature, evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Because the time requirements and the relationship between the companies are assessed individually and may change, confirm the updated rules directly with USCIS or with a specialist before building your case.

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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.