What does “1 year of continuous employment” mean in the EB-1C?

In the EB-1C, the phrase “1 year of continuous employment” describes the requirement that the candidate must have worked continuously in a managerial or executive capacity outside the United States, within the same organization (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate) that will be sponsoring the transfer, prior to filing the petition.

The key element is continuity: the qualifying period must reflect uninterrupted service in the required role, without gaps that would undermine the employment relationship or the hierarchical level. Changes in employer, changes in role, or intervals in incompatible positions may affect how this time is assessed.

• Employment relationship with the same multinational organization sponsoring the transfer.
• Service in a managerial or executive capacity, and not merely in an operational role.
• Continuity of performance in the qualifying position.

The exact duration and the accepted time window are criteria defined by USCIS and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Gather documents such as employment contracts, company letters, and organizational charts, and confirm the current requirements with the official source or a specialist before filing.

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.