Multinational Managers & Executives (EB-1C)

What is EB-1C immigrant visa category?

Employment-Based immigrant visas are divided into five (5) preference classes.  EB-1C is a subcategory of the first preference.  It is reserved for managers and executives of multinational employers.

Do I qualify for EB-1C immigrant visa category?

You may qualify for this immigrant visa, if

• You have been employed outside the United States for at least one (1) year within the past three (3) years by your multinational employer
• You are planning to come to the United States to work for the same multinational employer, and
• You were a manager or an executive with the same employer or its affiliate or subsidiary, while working outside of the United States

Your prospective employer in the United States must have been in business for at least one (1) year and must be the same employer, or its affiliate or subsidiary, who hired you outside of the United States.

You do not need to go through the labor certification process at the United States Department of Labor. However, a petition for EB-1C classification must be filed by your prospective employer.

EB-1C visas are usually immediately available for citizens of most countries and there is no waiting time, except for processing time, to acquire this visa. You may check the visa availability of a particular visa category for your country of origin. See Priority Date & Visa Availability.

How is a petition for EB-1C classification filed?

To apply for EB-1C classification, your employer must file an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (USCIS Form I-140) together with the supporting evidence, which can be rather complicated.

To see the current USCIS fee for the petition, see USCIS Fee Schedule.

To see how long the USCIS would take to adjudicate your petition, see USCIS Processing Times.

Premium processing is not yet available for this kind of petition.

What happens after the EB-1C classification petition is approved?

If you are in the United States and qualify, you may apply for Adjustment of Status.  If you qualify to file for adjustment of status and a visa is immediately available to you, you should file an Application for Adjustment of Status together with the petition.

If you are outside of the United States or do not qualify to file for adjustment of status, you must go through Consular Processing, to actually receive an immigrant visa.

Traveling Outside of the United States during the Immigration Application Process

Working in the United States during the Immigration Application Process

Applying for Citizenship