EB-1C: I have been a manager in the US for 2 years but have not completed the qualifying management period abroad. Can I still apply?

Probably not yet, and the reason lies in the core logic of EB-1C. This category was designed for individuals transferred from a foreign affiliate to perform an equivalent role in the United States, which presupposes a qualifying management period outside the US, completed within a recent window before the transfer or the petition.

For this reason, the time you have already accumulated as a manager in the United States typically does not satisfy that requirement: it reflects your leadership within the country, not the managerial or executive experience abroad that the category requires as its foundation. If that qualifying period abroad has not yet been completed, the case is unlikely to qualify at this stage.

This does not mean the door is permanently closed. Depending on the company structure and your career path, there may be ways to build or supplement the required foreign experience, or to explore other options in the meantime. Each situation turns on the specifics of dates, roles, and corporate ties.

Because the time and function requirements are decisive and subject to change, it is worth reviewing the current requirements with USCIS and going over your background with a business 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.