You lead a team in Europe. For the green card, what counts is whether you can prove it.
EB-1C Green Card: for managers moving to America with their company
The EB-1C is the green card for managers and executives who transfer to the USA within their corporate group: no labor market test, no lottery, filed by the US employer.
You run a division, a branch or the whole company, and the group you work for has a company in the USA. Then there is a green card written precisely for you. The law calls it the category for "multinational executives and managers", USCIS files it under the code E13, and in practice it is simply called the EB-1C.
Three features set it apart among the employment-based green cards. There is no labor market test. There is no lottery. And for people born in Europe, there is no waiting line in this category as of November 2026. The price for all this is close scrutiny: USCIS wants to see that you genuinely lead, abroad and in the USA, and that both companies do real business.
This guide explains the EB-1C as a whole and leads to eight in-depth pages: requirements, the roles of manager, executive and function manager, the L-1A route, small subsidiaries, the process, processing time, costs and the typical points of dispute when USCIS asks questions or denies.
1What the EB-1C is and who it is for
Employment-based green cards are organized into five preference categories. The first, EB-1, is called "Priority Workers" in the statute and covers three groups: people with extraordinary ability (EB-1A), outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B) and multinational executives and managers (EB-1C). The EB-1C has been a category of its own since 1990; before that, it ran through a list kept by the US Department of Labor.
It is meant for people in a leadership role at an internationally active company who transfer to the USA within that company. The law requires that, in the three years before the petition, you worked at least one year for the company or an affiliated company, and that you will keep working for the same group in the USA in a managerial or executive capacity. "Multinational" simply means the group does business in at least two countries, one of them the USA. It does not have to be a corporation with ten thousand employees.
The key practical difference from other employer-sponsored green cards: the EB-1C needs no labor certification. In the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, the employer has to prove in a separate procedure with the Department of Labor that it cannot find a qualified American applicant for the job. With the EB-1C, this step disappears entirely. In its place comes a written job offer that describes your duties precisely.
The green card you receive at the end is unconditional. Unlike the EB-5 green card for investors, there is no two-year probation period after which the business is reviewed again. Your spouse and your unmarried children under 21 receive the same status, as E-14 and E-15. An overview of all three EB-1 groups is on our page about the EB-1 classifications.
| Feature | Rule |
|---|---|
| Category | First preference (EB-1), subcategory E13: Multinational Executive or Manager |
| Who files | The US employer, on Form I-140. Self-petitioning is not possible. |
| Labor market test | None. No labor certification is required, but a written job offer with a detailed description of duties is. |
| Employment abroad | At least one year in a managerial or executive role within the three years before the petition, or before the last entry as a nonimmigrant. The year does not have to be continuous. |
| US company | Must have been doing business regularly for at least one year at the time of filing. There is no new office rule for the EB-1C. |
| Relationship | Same company, parent and subsidiary, or sister companies (affiliates) |
| Quota | EB-1 receives up to 28.6 percent of the annual employment-based visas (base figure 140,000); no more than 7 percent of all preference visas per country of birth |
| Family | Spouse (E-14) and unmarried children under 21 (E-15) receive the same status |
| Type of green card | Unconditional: no conditional green card as with the EB-5 |
Source: USCIS, Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1; 8 CFR 204.5(j); USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 6 Part F Chapter 4 (as of October 23, 2026); 8 U.S.C. 1151(d), 1152(a)(2), 1153(b)(1) and (d). Accessed October 24, 2026.
2The requirements: four tests that decide everything
USCIS asks the same four questions of every EB-1C petition. First: did you work long enough in a leadership role abroad? The requirement is at least one year within the three years before the petition. If you already work for the group in the USA, for example on an L-1 visa, the three years before your last entry as a nonimmigrant count. The year does not have to be continuous; that is a difference from the L-1, which requires one continuous year.
Second: are the companies properly related? The US company must be the same company as your employer abroad, its parent, its subsidiary or a sister company under common control. What counts is ownership and control, not the name. This relationship must exist at filing and last until the green card is granted, and the company abroad must keep doing business until then.
Third: has the US company been doing business for at least one year? This means the regular, systematic and continuous provision of goods or services. A mailbox or an agent is not enough, and neither is one year of registration with the state. Goods and services supplied to affiliated companies, on the other hand, do count.
Fourth: is the position in the USA managerial or executive, and was the one abroad? This is where most cases are decided. What the law means by "managerial" and "executive" is narrower than everyday usage, and that is the subject of the next section. On top of that comes a fifth, more technical condition: the employer must show that it can pay your salary from the day of filing until the green card is granted.
How USCIS wants each of these points documented, and the pitfalls around the year abroad, are covered in a separate guide.
In writing: which visa fits you and your family, prepared with the immigration attorney on the firm's team.
3Manager, executive or function manager: which role you play
In everyday life, anyone with a few people reporting to them is a manager. In immigration law, the term is narrower. The law recognizes three ways to qualify. The personnel manager runs an organization or department and supervises other managers or professionals with degree-level qualifications; they have personnel authority up to hiring and firing. Anyone who only supervises employees without professional qualifications is, as a first-line supervisor, expressly not a manager in this sense.
The function manager manages not people but a function essential to the company: financial planning, product development or sales for a business unit, for example. They must primarily direct this function rather than do its work themselves, and for that they need employees or contractors who handle the day-to-day work. Finally, the executive directs the organization or a major part of it, sets goals and policies, and reports only to higher executives, the board or the shareholders.
The same test word applies in all three cases: "primarily". A title like managing director, president or CEO proves nothing. USCIS wants to see a job description with time allocations and an organizational chart that matches it. If you spend most of your time selling, coding or writing invoices yourself, you are not a manager in the eyes of the law, even if you own the company.
Which role fits your position, how the function manager is assessed in detail and what a convincing job description looks like are explained in the guide to the three roles.
4The L-1A route: transfer first, then stay
Many EB-1C cases start with an L-1A visa. That is no coincidence: both categories require a year of work abroad and a managerial or executive position with an affiliated US company. The L-1A gets you to the USA quickly, and the EB-1C makes your stay permanent. And because the L-1 is a dual intent visa, a pending green card application cannot be held against your L-1 as an intention to abandon your home country.
The L-1A can do something the EB-1C cannot: it can support a new office. If you are only now setting up a US subsidiary, you can come on an L-1A for up to one year to build it. The EB-1C, by contrast, requires the US company to have been doing business for a year already. The usual sequence is therefore: formation, L-1A for the new office, building up in the first year, L-1A extension, then the EB-1C petition. The L-1A allows a maximum of seven years in total, which leaves room for both steps.
An approved L-1A is no guarantee. USCIS reviews the EB-1C as a separate application; the earlier approval is a relevant factor but not binding. If a plan was enough to win the L-1A, a year later the EB-1C requires an organization that has delivered on that plan. How to use the time between the two applications is described in a separate guide, and you can find the comparison with the E-2 under L-1 or E-2 on the path to the green card.
5Small and young US subsidiaries
The EB-1C is not just for large corporations. The law sets no minimum number of employees and no minimum revenue. It even states explicitly that when USCIS looks at staffing levels, it must take into account the reasonable needs of the organization, in light of its purpose and stage of development. No one counts as a manager just because they lead many people, and no one is disqualified just because they lead few.
In practice, small companies still face a tight squeeze. The USCIS Policy Manual states that a one-person office is not ruled out, but that it can be very hard to show the sole employee is primarily managing. If you are on your own, you usually end up doing the day-to-day work yourself. The solution is a structure that takes that load off you: employees, independent contractors, tasks handled by the parent company.
With small structures, two formal points often decide the case before the substance is even reviewed. The US company must be a separate legal entity, such as a Corporation or LLC; a branch office that is not its own legal entity cannot file for the EB-1C. And a sole proprietorship cannot file on behalf of its own owner. A company that you own, however, absolutely can.
6The process: petition, then green card in the US or at the consulate
The EB-1C comes in two stages. In the first, the US employer files Form I-140, the Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with USCIS. It includes a statement from an authorized official of the company, the job offer with a description of duties, evidence of the relationship between the companies, of the business operations and of your work abroad, plus financial statements or tax returns showing ability to pay. Documents in a language other than English need a complete English translation, with the translator certifying its accuracy in writing.
The day the complete petition arrives with the correct fee becomes your priority date, your place in the queue. For applicants born in Europe, the EB-1 is "current" in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin: there is no wait once the petition is approved.
In the second stage, you apply for the green card itself. If you already live in the US, you file Form I-485 for adjustment of status, at the same time as the I-140, as long as your category is current. On top of that come a medical exam with a USCIS-designated doctor, a fingerprint appointment and, if USCIS considers it necessary, an interview. If you still live in Europe, once the I-140 is approved your case moves through the National Visa Center to the consulate, where you receive your immigrant visa. The green card then arrives by mail after you enter the US.
Which documents belong in which stage, when the consulate route is the better choice and what applies to travel during the process: it's all in our guide to the process.
Find the right path to the USA for you in one conversation.
7How long the EB-1C takes
For the petition itself, you can buy a firm commitment: with Premium Processing, USCIS decides an EB-1C petition within 45 business days, or issues a Request for Evidence within that window. If USCIS misses the deadline, the fee is refunded. After a Request for Evidence, the clock restarts once your response is received. Premium Processing has been fully available for the EB-1C since January 2023 and can also be requested for a petition that is already pending.
Without Premium Processing, timing depends on the workload of the service center handling your case. USCIS publishes these processing times in its online tool; the figures change constantly. The table below shows how many EB-1C petitions were received, decided and pending in fiscal year 2026. On average, USCIS decided around 3,200 cases per quarter in the first three quarters, with just over 12,600 cases pending.
Then comes the second stage, the I-485 or the consulate, with its own timeline. Applicants born in India and China also face the Visa Bulletin queue; for applicants born in Europe, there is none. How the stages add up and where you can save time is explained in our guide to processing times.
| Quarter | Received | Approved | Denied | Pending at quarter end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October to December 2025 | 3.787 | 2.429 | 75 | 12.636 |
| January to March 2026 | 3.648 | 3.334 | 104 | 12.847 |
| April to June 2026 | 3.554 | 3.658 | 96 | 12.657 |
Source: USCIS, Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker by Fiscal Year, Quarter, and Case Status, FY2026 Q3 (data as of July 2026). Approvals and denials in a quarter may relate to petitions from earlier quarters.
8What the EB-1C costs
Government fees for the EB-1C are modest compared with what an international assignment costs anyway. The I-140 costs $715 on paper or $665 online. On top of that comes the Asylum Program Fee of $600, or $300 for small employers with up to 25 full-time employees in the US (including affiliated companies). Premium Processing costs an additional $2,965. In the second stage, each family member pays either the I-485 fee or, at the consulate, the immigrant visa fee followed by the USCIS Immigrant Fee.
The bigger items are the immigration attorney's work, translations, the medical exam and, often underestimated, the groundwork inside the company: org charts, job descriptions, financial statements and sometimes a restructuring of the US subsidiary so it can support the position. The government fees are in the table; the full breakdown with every item is in our guide to costs.
| Item | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-140 | $715 (paper), $665 (online) | each petition |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600; small employers (up to 25 full-time employees in the US, including affiliates) $300; nonprofits $0 | in addition to the I-140 |
| Premium processing (Form I-907) | $2,965 | optional |
| Form I-485 (filing in the US) | $1,440 (paper), $1,390 (online); children under 14 filing with a parent $950 or $900 | per person |
| Immigrant visa at the consulate | $345 | per person, instead of the I-485 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | $235 | per person after the immigrant visa is issued |
Source: USCIS, Form G-1055 Fee Schedule, edition 10/16/26; Form I-140 Instructions (edition 06/07/24); 22 CFR 22.1, Schedule of Fees, item 32(b). Accessed October 24, 2026.
9When USCIS asks for more or says no
The good news first: EB-1C petitions are rarely denied. In the first three quarters of fiscal year 2026, there were 9,421 approvals against just 275 denials. For comparison: for the EB-1A for extraordinary ability, USCIS denied 2,832 petitions and approved 1,348 in the third quarter alone. How often USCIS issues a Request for Evidence before deciding is not published.
Requests for Evidence keep circling the same points: the job description reads like statutory text rather than real work. Too few people work under you to free you from day-to-day tasks. The year abroad is not properly documented or was not managerial. Ownership and control between the companies are unclear. Or the US company has not been doing business long enough. USCIS gives you at most twelve weeks to respond to a Request for Evidence, and that deadline is not extended.
10EB-1C or another path to a green card?
The EB-1C is not the only path for entrepreneurs and executives. The EB-1A is designed for people with extraordinary ability and can be filed without an employer, but it requires three of ten criteria, such as awards, published material about you or a salary well above average. The EB-2 with a National Interest Waiver drops the job offer requirement if your work is in the national interest of the US; more on that in our article on the NIW green card without a sponsor. The EB-5 requires an investment that creates at least ten full-time jobs.
The strength of the EB-1C is its predictability. It doesn't ask about fame or the national interest, but about facts a business can shape itself: who owns whom, who does what, how long the US company has been selling. Its drawback is the tie-in. Until the green card arrives, everything hinges on the group, and if you leave the group before your green card application has been pending for 180 days, you generally lose the basis for it.
If you live in the US on an E-2 visa today, you can only use the EB-1C if you previously worked in a managerial role for an affiliated company abroad. The other routes for E-2 holders are covered in our guide From E-2 visa to green card.
| Route | Who files | Core requirement |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1C | US employer | One year in a managerial role within the group abroad, a managerial position in a US company that has been doing business for one year |
| EB-1A | You or an employer | Extraordinary ability: three of ten criteria or a major international award |
| EB-2 NIW | You or an employer | Waiver of the job offer in the US national interest |
| EB-5 | You, as the investor | Investment in a new business that creates at least ten full-time jobs |
Source: USCIS, Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1; 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(1), (b)(2)(B) and (b)(5)(A). Accessed October 24, 2026.
Company formation and visa in one plan, so your company carries your visa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EB-1C green card?
The EB-1C is the green card for multinational managers and executives. It belongs to the first preference category of employment-based green cards. A US company files for someone who has worked for at least one year in a managerial or executive role for an affiliated company abroad and will serve in a managerial or executive role in the US.
Do I need a labor market test for the EB-1C?
No. The EB-1C requires no Labor Certification, so the US employer does not have to prove it cannot find an American applicant. It does have to provide a written job offer that describes your duties precisely and show that it can pay your salary.
Can I file for the EB-1C myself?
Not as a private individual. The petition is always filed by the US employer. If you own the US company, it is still a separate legal entity and can file for you as its owner. A sole proprietorship or a branch of a foreign company that is not a separate entity cannot. More on this in the guide to small and new US subsidiaries.
Does my year abroad have to be continuous?
No. Unlike the L-1, the EB-1C does not require your year of managerial or executive work abroad to be continuous. It must, however, fall within the three years before the petition or, if you already work for the group in the US, within the three years before your last entry as a nonimmigrant.
Can a newly formed US subsidiary file for the EB-1C?
Only once it has been doing business regularly for at least one year. A new office rule exists only for the L-1. That is why the usual route runs through the L-1A: build the new office first, then file for the EB-1C. See the guide From L-1A to EB-1C green card.
How long does the EB-1C take?
With Premium Processing, USCIS decides the petition within 45 business days or comes back with a request for evidence. Then comes the application for the green card itself, either in the US or at a consulate. For people born in Europe, the EB-1 is current in November 2026, so there is no waiting line. Every stage is covered in the guide EB-1C processing time and Premium Processing.
How we help you
- Visa RoadmapIn writing: which visa fits you and your family, prepared with the immigration attorney on the firm's team.
- Visa and Green Card ConsultationWhich route to the USA fits you, settled in one conversation.
- Visa Roadmap for Company FormationFormation and visa in one plan, so the company carries the visa.
- Form a CorporationThe US corporation (Inc) for growth, investors and your visa.
- Tax structureA clean structure between parent company and US subsidiary, or between you and your US company, coordinated with your accountant.
- PayrollPayroll, payroll taxes and filings for your employees in the USA.
All guides on this topic
EB-1C Process: I-140, Then the Green Card in the US or at the Consulate Read more → 
EB-1C Denied or RFE? The Five Contested Points of the Petition Read more → 
EB-1C Processing Time: 45 Business Days Express and the Wait Afterward Read more → 
Manager, Executive or Function Manager: What Carries Your EB-1C? Read more → 
EB-1C with a Small US Subsidiary: Can Your Company Carry the Green Card? Read more → 
EB-1C Costs: Every Fee from the First Form to the Green Card Read more → 
From L-1A to EB-1C Green Card: When a Transfer Becomes a Stay Read more → 
EB-1C Requirements: Six Conditions USCIS Measures You Against Read more → More on US visas
All articles →
The ultimate guide to the L-1 visa Read more → 
The US EB-1A visa Read more → EB-1C Process: I-140, Then the Green Card in the US or at the Consulate Read more → EB-1C Denied or RFE? The Five Contested Points of the Petition Read more → EB-1C Processing Time: 45 Business Days Express and the Wait Afterward Read more → Manager, Executive or Function Manager: What Carries Your EB-1C? Read more →