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I spent 2 years out of a management role after working as a manager abroad. If it still falls within 3 years, does EB-1C work?

In the EB-1C, time out of a management role matters because it can push your managerial experience outside the required recent window. Learn how to assess whether your qualifying period still counts.

Written by

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Updated on July 16, 2026
1 min read
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The EB-1C is the pathway for executives and managers transferred from a foreign company to a parent, branch, or subsidiary in the United States. It requires that you have completed a qualifying period of managerial or executive service abroad within a recent window before the transfer or the petition.

The time you spent outside a management role matters precisely because it can push your experience outside that window. The central question is not how long you were out of a role, but whether your managerial period still falls within the required recent interval and is well documented.

  • Confirm that your time as a manager abroad falls within the window counted up to the petition date.
  • Gather records that demonstrate the continuity and managerial or executive nature of your duties.
  • Verify that the corporate relationship between the entities is qualifying.

Because the minimum required duration and the exact size of that window are criteria defined by USCIS and may change, do not rely on a number from memory: confirm the current rules at the official source and evaluate your case with a specialist before filing.

Learn more about EB-1

Category
EB-1 Green Card (1st priority)
Requirement
Extraordinary ability
Self-petition
Allowed (no sponsor needed)
Processing
6-18 months
All about EB-1

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.

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I spent 2 years out of a management role after working as a manager abroad. If it still falls within 3 years, does EB-1C work?

In the EB-1C, time out of a management role matters because it can push your managerial experience outside the required recent window. Learn how to assess whether your qualifying period still counts.

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