I managed a branch abroad for 9 months. EB-1C?

The EB-1C is the pathway for executives and managers transferred from a company abroad to a parent, branch, or subsidiary in the United States. One of the key requirements is having completed a minimum period of managerial or executive work abroad within a recent interval before the transfer.

If your time leading the branch lasted around nine months, it is possible that period alone falls short of the minimum required. This is not an automatic disqualification: the exact duration and how it is counted are determined by USCIS, and your background is evaluated as a whole.

• It is worth checking whether there are other periods of managerial or executive activity that can be added to your qualifying time.
• The actual nature of your duties (strategic decision-making, team management, or operational oversight) carries as much weight as the time itself.
• The corporate relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity also needs to be established.

Because the time requirement is a criterion that may change with current rules, do not rely on a number from memory: confirm the required period at the official source (USCIS) and review your case 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.