For EB-1C, do I need to stay abroad for 1 uninterrupted year or are short trips allowed?

The EB-1C visa is intended for executives and managers who have held a leadership position in the company employing them outside the United States. One of the requirements for this category is to prove, for at least one year, managerial or executive service in a multinational company before the transfer to the country. This experience generally needs to be continuous, but this does not necessarily mean that short trips are automatically disregarded.

In practice, short trips that do not compromise the continuity of your employment and the performance of your managerial duties usually do not prevent fulfilling the one-year work abroad requirement. The key is to clearly demonstrate, through documentary evidence, that the trips did not alter your position or interrupt the employment relationship with the company outside the United States.

Therefore, keeping detailed records – such as itineraries, employer statements, and proof that your responsibilities remained intact – can be helpful to demonstrate the continuity of work.

It is important to emphasize that all actions must comply with United States immigration laws. In case of more specific doubts about particular situations, seeking information from reliable sources and consulting specialized professionals can be decisive. This caution helps avoid problems arising from misinterpretations of the rules or offers promising ease without legal backing.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.