I am a CEO, but I stayed abroad for 11 months, not 12. I am missing 1 month. What should I do?

It is important to understand that the eligibility criteria for the EB-1 visa, especially in the category designated for executives or managers of multinational companies, are quite specific regarding experience requirements. In general terms, if the regulation requires one year of work abroad in an executive or managerial position, having 11 months may be considered insufficient, even if you are only one month short of completing the required period.

This means you will need to accumulate the full time required to satisfy the criteria stipulated by United States immigration law. Generally, every month counts and, even if the difference is just one month, the documentation must prove the experience without gaps regarding the required dates for the petition to be considered strong. It is essential that your professional history is demonstrated accurately and transparently, as immigration officers tend to carefully analyze compliance with the requirements.

I advise you to consult specialized immigration professionals who can analyze your case in detail and guide you on how to proceed, whether by waiting the complementary time required or by evaluating if there are other elements that can be used to strengthen your petition. Remember that strictly following immigration laws is essential, as is avoiding falling for proposals or marketing campaigns promising easy or guaranteed results. These offers rarely consider the complexity of cases and may bring unnecessary risks to your process.

It is always valuable to seek proper and well-founded guidance to ensure that all requirements are met in the best possible way, guaranteeing a safer process aligned with legal demands.

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.