My role abroad was Project Manager and I supervised 10 people. Does that count as ‘manager’ for EB-1C?

Not necessarily based on the number of people you supervised. For the EB-1C, what defines a managerial or executive profile is the nature of the role you performed abroad, not the headcount of subordinates.

Immigration authorities look for evidence that you acted in a managerial or executive capacity, meaning you had authority to direct the company or a relevant department, area, or division of it. That goes beyond coordinating a team. What typically carries weight is showing that your responsibilities included:

• Making strategic decisions and setting policies or goals.
• Directing a substantial function or area, not just day-to-day tasks.
• Leading and evaluating teams or other managers with real autonomy.

A Project Manager title can qualify, depending on what it meant in practice: budget authority, decision-making power over people and projects, and meaningful standing in the company’s organizational hierarchy. The title itself matters less than the actual duties, supported by the organization’s documentation.

Since the analysis depends on these specifics, it is worth gathering your job description and the company’s organizational chart and reviewing the updated requirements on the USCIS website, ideally 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.