If I am a ‘co-CEO’ or ‘co-chair’, does the EB-1C work for me?

It can work. Under the EB-1C, eligibility is not determined by job title alone: a title of co-CEO or co-chair neither qualifies nor disqualifies anyone on its own. What matters are the actual duties and responsibilities you exercise.

This visa is designed for executives and managers transferred from a multinational company to a branch, subsidiary, or affiliate in the United States, with a track record of holding a leadership role at the company abroad. If your role as co-CEO or co-chair involves clear executive duties, such as setting strategy, overseeing operations, and making high-level decisions, there is a path to qualify.

The key issue with shared leadership is decision-making authority: dividing command can raise questions about how much actual power rests with you. That is why it helps to document your role thoroughly, with evidence such as:

• organizational charts showing your position and reporting lines;
• job descriptions and reports detailing your responsibilities;
• records of strategic decisions you led.

Each case is assessed individually. Since the required criteria may change, it is worth checking the updated requirements at the official source (USCIS) and reviewing your profile with a specialist.

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.