I manage as a volunteer manager for an NGO. Can I qualify for EB-1C?

It can be challenging, and the answer depends heavily on how the organization and your role are structured. EB-1C is designed for executives and managers transferred within a group with international operations, and not every management role automatically fits that mold.

The category requires that you have held a managerial or executive position at an entity abroad and are being transferred to a branch, affiliate, or subsidiary in the United States within the same group. For that reason, two points tend to be particularly sensitive in the case of an NGO:

• The existence of a structure with international presence and a qualifying corporate relationship between the entities.
• The nature of the role, which must demonstrate real managerial or directorial authority, not merely the coordination of volunteers.

This does not mean that working in the nonprofit sector is automatically disqualifying. What matters is a detailed analysis of the organization’s structure, the relationship between entities, and the managerial weight of your position, to assess how they align with the requirements.

Since every situation has its own particulars, it is worth reviewing the updated requirements on USCIS and evaluating your case with a specialist, who can advise whether EB-1C applies or whether another pathway makes more sense.

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.