I was on L-1A for 6 months and resigned. Can I pursue EB-1C through another affiliate?

Possibly, and the answer depends on two points that must be assessed together: your managerial background and the structure of the corporate group. Both L-1A and EB-1C target executives and managers of multinational companies, but EB-1C carries its own immigration requirements.

EB-1C requires that the candidate have served in a managerial or executive capacity at the foreign company for a qualifying period before the petition. If your time on L-1A was brief and represents your only managerial experience, you may fall short of the required eligible time. If you held management roles before that, your prior experience may contribute to the required period.

Beyond your background, the U.S. company filing the petition must maintain a qualifying corporate relationship with the foreign company where you worked. That relationship may involve another affiliate or subsidiary, provided the link between the entities is documented and both are actively operating.

Because the rules are strict and each case is evaluated individually, it is worth gathering documentation of your career history and the companies’ corporate structure and confirming current requirements with USCIS, preferably with the support of a qualified immigration professional.

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.