EB-1C: what if the U.S. company hires me first and I go abroad only afterward?

The EB-1C follows a specific sequence: it was designed for individuals who have already held a managerial or executive role at an overseas company and are then transferred to lead the operations of a branch, subsidiary, or affiliate in the United States. The international leadership experience is the foundation of the petition, and it must, as a rule, come before any work in the U.S.

For this reason, the reverse scenario is typically problematic. If the U.S. company hires you first and only later sends you abroad, the central element of the category is missing: a qualifying period of leadership outside the U.S. that predates the transfer. A mere corporate link to the parent company is not enough — what matters is the international managerial track record that justifies the petition.

• Managerial or executive experience abroad is the cornerstone of the visa.
• That experience must, as a rule, precede the role assumed in the U.S.
• You must demonstrate the corporate relationship between the entities and your leadership role.

Corporate arrangements vary and some details can only be clarified through a case-by-case analysis. Before structuring a case, it is worth reviewing the current requirements with USCIS and going over the sequence with a qualified 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.