EB-1C Green Card
The EB-1C visa is an immigration category that allows employees in managerial or executive positions of international companies to obtain permanent residence (Green Card) in the United States. This classification is specifically designed for foreign managers who wish to assume managerial roles within a branch, subsidiary, or affiliate in the United States.
The EB-1C category is considered the permanent residence version of the L-1A intra-company transfer visa. The application requires employer sponsorship and typically expects the company to have been operating in the U.S. for at least one year. This ensures managerial continuity between operations in the U.S. and abroad.
Requirements for International Managers
To qualify for the EB-1C classification, the following basic criteria must be met:
The applicant must have worked for at least one year in the same company or its affiliate in a managerial or executive position during the three years preceding the application.
The U.S. employer must have an affiliate, branch, or parent relationship with the company where the applicant is employed.
When the applicant arrives in the U.S., they must take on a managerial or executive role at the same or similar level.
The employer company must be actively engaged in operations in the U.S.
A managerial position refers to individuals who directly manage a department, division, or function of the company, being authorized in personnel hiring, budgeting, goal setting, and strategic decision-making processes.
Application Process and Documents
The EB-1C application is typically filed by the employer using Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker).
The application file includes the organizational structures of both the foreign and U.S. offices, employee relationships, job descriptions, payroll records, tax documents, and activity reports.
The USCIS focuses on the reality of the management structure, the applicant’s managerial qualifications, and the operational viability of the business in the U.S. while evaluating the application. Therefore, both the corporate documents of the company and the applicant's job and authority descriptions must be presented in detail.
Advantages of the EB-1C Visa
Provides the right to permanent residence (Green Card).
No need for the PERM (labor certification) process.
The applicant's spouse and unmarried children under 21 can simultaneously gain the right to permanent residence.
L-1A holders can transition to EB-1C if they meet the necessary conditions.
The application has a shorter processing time compared to other employer-sponsored visas.
Family Members
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of EB-1C visa holders can apply for immigration simultaneously.
Spouses can obtain legal work authorization in the U.S. through an EAD (Employment Authorization Document); children can continue their education full-time.
The Approach of Karakaşlıoğlu Law Firm
In managerial transfers of globally operating companies, each case must be carefully examined in terms of corporate structure, employment relationships, and operational suitability.
As Karakaşlıoğlu Law Firm, we prepare each EB-1C case by holistically analyzing the company and employee profile.
Our goal is not only to obtain visa approval but to secure our clients' managerial roles in the U.S. in a long-term and sustainable manner.
From our New York office, we provide strategic immigration solutions to companies looking to strengthen business connections between Turkey and the U.S.
