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I was CEO and CFO at the same time at my foreign company. Which title should I focus on for EB-1C?

Held both CEO and CFO titles abroad? For EB-1C, anchor the case on the role that best shows executive leadership -- most often CEO -- and use the other as support. See how to build that narrative.

Written by

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Updated on July 10, 2026
2 min read
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Build the narrative around the role that most clearly demonstrates executive leadership, and in the vast majority of cases that is the CEO position. The EB-1C is the green card for executives and managers of multinational companies transferred to a U.S. operation, and what it evaluates is the final decision-making authority and the strategic management of the organization.

When someone holds both CEO and CFO titles, the instinct is to combine them, but the analysis does not work by stacking titles — it focuses on the substance of the leadership role. The CEO title typically encompasses oversight of the entire operation, strategy-setting, and command of the company, which is precisely the profile EB-1C looks for. That is why it tends to anchor the case.

This does not mean discarding the CFO role. If the financial responsibilities had a strong executive component — with strategic decisions and area management — they can complement the overall picture and reinforce the image of a leader with broad scope. The recommendation is to build the documentation around the stronger function and use the other as support, without diluting the narrative across two parallel titles.

  • Focus on the title that best demonstrates authority and strategic management, usually CEO.
  • The analysis looks at the substance of leadership, not the sum of titles.
  • The CFO role can complement the profile if it carried genuine executive weight.

Because every corporate structure is different, it is worth organizing the description of each function with a specialist and confirming updated requirements at the official source (USCIS) 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.

Victoria's tips

I was CEO and CFO at the same time at my foreign company. Which title should I focus on for EB-1C?

Held both CEO and CFO titles abroad? For EB-1C, anchor the case on the role that best shows executive leadership -- most often CEO -- and use the other as support. See how to build that narrative.

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