I was a co-founder and CTO but did not manage people. Does EB-1C still apply?

The EB-1C was designed for executives and managers who led a company outside the United States and will occupy an equivalent role in a branch, subsidiary, or parent company in the U.S. The focus is on the managerial or executive nature of the role, not the job title.

Having been a co-founder and CTO demonstrates seniority and technical responsibility, but if you did not direct people or an organizational function (strategic decisions, team management, departmental or operational oversight), fitting that experience into the profile EB-1C expects becomes more difficult.

This does not close the doors of EB-1. Leadership and excellence can be demonstrated in many ways, and a distinguished technical track record with impact and recognition in your field may fit better under another path in the category, such as EB-1A, which evaluates extraordinary ability and allows self-petition.

Since the classification depends on the specifics of the roles you actually held, it is worth reviewing the updated requirements with USCIS and mapping the best strategy with a specialist before filing.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.