Does the EB-1C require me to stay one year at the U.S. company?

There is no rule requiring an EB-1C beneficiary to remain at the U.S. company for a fixed period after the green card is approved. The confusion usually comes from mixing up two separate things: the prior experience required abroad and what is expected of you after you immigrate.

The EB-1C is the path for executives and managers of multinational companies who transfer their role to a U.S. affiliate or subsidiary. To qualify, the applicant must have a qualifying period of prior work abroad in a managerial or executive capacity within the same corporate group. That qualifying period is defined by the category’s rules, and you should check the current parameters at the official source.

After approval, there is no statutory minimum period requiring you to stay in the job. However, the purpose of the visa is that you genuinely perform the specialized role that supported the petition. Ending the employment abruptly shortly after becoming a resident can raise questions about the original intent and may complicate future reviews by immigration authorities.

In practice, maintaining consistency with the role that anchored the petition protects your status. It is worth checking the updated rules on the USCIS website and reviewing your specific situation with a specialist.

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.