I heard I can apply for the EB-1C right after spending some time on an L-1A in the U.S. Is that true?

This is a common misconception, so it is worth clarifying: there is no automatic rule that unlocks the EB-1C simply because you spent time on an L-1A in the United States. Time on the L-1A helps tell your story, but it is not, by itself, the deciding criterion.

The EB-1C is the green card pathway for multinational executives and managers. The analysis focuses on the substance of your role and your company’s structure, not a stopwatch. Generally speaking, you need to demonstrate:

• That you served in a qualifying managerial or executive capacity for a relevant period before the petition, including abroad.
• That there is a qualifying corporate relationship (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate) between the foreign entity and the U.S. operation.
• That the U.S. operation is active and supports a genuinely managerial or executive position.

In other words, being on the L-1A may indicate you have this profile, but eligibility depends on the full picture (background, role, and corporate structure), evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Because the exact requirements and timelines are detailed and may change, the safest approach is to review the current criteria on the official source (USCIS) and discuss your specific situation with an immigration 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.