Multinational Executives and Managers

EB-1C: Multinational Managers and Executives

EB-1C is designed for multinational executives and managers transferring to the United States to work for an affiliate or branch of their foreign company. This category allows multinational companies to bring top-level managerial talent to their U.S. operations. To qualify, the foreign national must have worked outside the U.S. for at least one year within the three years before filing the EB-1C petition—or, if already in the U.S. working for the same employer, one year in the three years prior to their most recent entry as a lawful worker. The previous employment abroad must have been in a managerial or executive role, and the job they will assume in the U.S. must also be at a managerial or executive level.

Employer sponsorship is necessary for EB-1C. The U.S. petitioner (employer) must be a U.S. company that maintains a qualifying relationship with the foreign company where the applicant previously worked — such as a parent company, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate. The U.S. company must have been actively operating for at least one year before applying with USCIS. The U.S. employer will submit the Form I-140 petition on behalf of the employee and must intend to employ them in a managerial or executive role within the U.S. organization. Like other EB-1 categories, no DOL labor certification is required for EB-1C petitions.

Typical candidates for EB-1C are high-level corporate leaders such as company directors, operations managers, or executives who have been leading a major function or division of a multinational company. For example, a marketing director of a global firm who has managed teams abroad and is being transferred to the U.S. office in a similar senior role could qualify. The EB-1C category makes it easier for international businesses to move their leadership staff to the U.S. and provides those employees with a direct path to obtaining a green card as permanent residents.