For EB-1C, my foreign employer paid me through another subsidiary. Is that a problem?

Receiving payment through another subsidiary does not, by itself, invalidate an EB-1C case. This category is designed for executives and managers transferred within the same multinational corporate group, and the central issue is the strength of the corporate relationship between the entities, not the accounting path through which the salary is paid.

Structures in which an intermediate subsidiary processes payroll are common in groups with multiple entities. What immigration authorities need to see clearly is that the foreign company and the U.S. company belong to the same corporate group and that your managerial role and the transfer are well documented.

To avoid confusion, it helps if the documentation demonstrates:

• The corporate relationship among the entities involved (parent, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary).
• The organizational hierarchy that supports your role as executive or manager.
• Accounting and employment records consistent with that relationship.

Because this type of arrangement is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, it is worth organizing your documentation carefully and reviewing your case structure with a 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.