For the EB-1C, does the overseas work period need to be uninterrupted, or can it include short trips?

For the EB-1C, the qualifying period of managerial or executive work abroad must, as a general rule, be continuous. However, continuity does not mean never having left the country: what matters is that your employment relationship with the company and the exercise of your leadership duties remained in place throughout that time.

Short trips, whether for business or personal reasons, that do not sever the employment or remove you from your position, generally do not break continuity. The critical point is being able to demonstrate, through documentation, that your role and responsibilities remained intact despite those absences.

• The qualifying overseas experience must, as a general rule, be continuous.
• Short trips that preserve the employment relationship are typically accepted.
• What determines the outcome is evidence that the leadership role remained active.

Keeping itineraries, employer declarations, and records showing that the position was maintained helps support this picture. Since every employment history has its nuances, it is worth checking the current requirements with USCIS and reviewing your case 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.