How long do I need to be on L-1A before applying for EB-1C?

There is no minimum time you must spend on an L-1A before filing for EB-1C. These are two separate processes with different purposes: the L-1A is a temporary visa for intracompany transfers of executives and managers, while the EB-1C is a green card pathway for those seeking permanent residence in that same professional capacity.

What actually unlocks the EB-1C is not the clock on your L-1A, but rather meeting its own distinct requirements. The key criteria are:

• Having served in a qualifying managerial or executive role abroad during the relevant period preceding the transfer.
• Having a U.S. employer that petitions on your behalf and maintains a qualifying corporate relationship (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate) with the foreign entity.
• Demonstrating that your role in the United States is also executive or managerial in nature.

If you already meet the required managerial experience, you can begin the EB-1C process regardless of how long you have held the L-1A. In practice, many people use their L-1A period to establish U.S. operations and gather documentation, but that is a matter of convenience, not a required timeline.

Because each corporate structure has its own particularities, it is worth confirming the current requirements with USCIS and reviewing your situation 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.