For EB-1C, does internship time count as managerial experience?

The EB-1C is the pathway for executives and managers of multinational companies transferring to the United States, and for that reason it looks closely at the nature of your experience, not merely the total time accumulated.

As a general rule, an internship is not typically accepted as managerial or executive experience. The reason is straightforward: an internship focuses on learning and professional development and, ordinarily, does not involve the level of authority, team leadership, and decision-making that this category requires.

What truly matters is being able to demonstrate that you held effective supervisory functions. Helpful documentation includes:

• The position’s place within the company’s organizational hierarchy.
• The authority to make decisions and set direction.
• Responsibility for managing people, departments, or operations.

There is a minimum period of managerial or executive experience required prior to the transfer, but what determines eligibility is the substance of the role, not its title. A shorter period in a genuine leadership function tends to carry more weight than a lengthy internship.

Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth confirming the current requirements at the official source (USCIS) and reviewing your background with a specialist before filing.

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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.