I held a managerial role a few years ago but have since left the company. Can I still apply for the EB-1C?

The EB-1C transfers executives and managers from a foreign company to a subsidiary, branch, or affiliate in the United States. Having held a managerial role in the past is helpful, but this category looks closely at two time-sensitive points, and that is exactly where leaving the company becomes relevant.

The first is the recency of your experience: the EB-1C requires that your managerial or executive work abroad occurred within a recent period before the petition, not at any point in your career. If too much time has passed since you held that role, your eligibility may be compromised, depending on how long ago and under what circumstances.

The second is your current relationship with the organization: the EB-1C generally presupposes that a qualifying managerial or executive position is waiting for you within the U.S. company structure. If you have left and no longer maintain a formal relationship or a standing offer from the U.S. affiliate, that can complicate or even prevent the petition.

• Verify whether your managerial experience falls within the recent window this category requires.
• Confirm whether there is a related company willing to file on your behalf and a qualifying position for you.
• Gather organizational charts, job descriptions, and records that document your period of employment.

Because everything depends on specific timelines and relationships, it is worth mapping out your situation with a specialist and checking the latest requirements at the official source (USCIS).

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.