My company abroad was single-member (I am the sole owner). Can I still qualify for EB-1C?

Having a single-member company (sole ownership) does not automatically disqualify you from the EB-1C, but it places your case in the group that requires extra care. The category was designed to transfer executives and managers within a real multinational structure, and it is precisely that structure that a sole-owner company must be able to demonstrate.

Two points tend to carry significant weight. The first is the qualifying relationship: there must be a genuine link (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate) between the company abroad and the entity in the United States, with consistent operations on both sides. The second is the nature of the role: in a very lean operation, it can be difficult to show that your position was truly executive or managerial rather than that of someone who simply handled every task in the business on their own.

• Document real and ongoing operations on both ends, not just formal existence.
• Show an organizational structure with people and functions you actually directed.
• Record the corporate relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity.

Being a sole owner is not a disqualifier in itself, but it requires building the case with heightened attention to detail. It is worth reviewing your structure with a specialist and checking updated requirements at the official source (USCIS).

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.