The process of the EB-1C Green Card
The EB-1C Green Card Process Explained: Essential information for multinational executives and managers seeking U.S. residency.
The process of the EB-1C
Your employer must submit an I-140 immigrant petition for an alien worker to USCIS to start the EB-1C process. You can submit an I-485 application to register as a permanent resident or change your status after accepting the petition. Suppose your priority date is current, according to the Visa Bulletin. In that case, your status will instantly change to a legal permanent resident once the Immigrant Visa under the EB-1C and I-485 Adjustment of Status applications have both been approved.
You must go through consular processing if you are outside of the U.S.when you submit your application. To do this, you must schedule an appointment with the U.S.consulate or embassy in your country of residence following the EB-1C Immigrant Visa approval. If your priority date is current, you will be able to process the visa, schedule an appointment with the U.S. consulate, and attend a one-on-one interview with a consular officer.
To be eligible for an interview, you must submit an online DS-260 immigrant visa application and produce a printed copy of the confirmation page. In addition, you will need to work with the National Visa Center to provide all necessary application documents to satisfy your ability to adjust your U.S. status before scheduling an immigrant visa interview. Depending on your age, you might or might not have to have your biometrics collected.
If the officer determines you are not inadmissible to the U.S., you will have the right to enter the country as a legal permanent resident. The official at the U.S. point of entry (border, seaport, or airport) will stamp your passport for admission following a quick background investigation. You will soon receive a letter with your EB-1C-based approved green card.
Government Processing
Current USCIS processing times for Multinational Manager or Executive I-140 Immigrant Visa applications is approximately 16-20 months from the time it has been filed. This time is just an estimate, as processing times can fluctuate greatly depending on USCIS caseload and resources. USCIS regularly updates its website with information on actual processing timelines.
After examining a petition, USCIS may take one of the following actions:
- Accept the case. If your petition is accepted, USCIS will send you a Form I-797 as an approval notice in the mail.
- Send a Request for Additional Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). The USCIS officer examining your case may ask you to submit further information to back up particular claims made in your application if the officer determines that there is not enough evidence to support approval. USCIS typically gives applicants up to 84 days to reply to an RFE and a NOID.
- Reject your application; no RFE or NOID is required. If this happens, a client may ask USCIS to reopen their case or file an appeal with an appeals board.
Government Fees
Filling fee for the Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker: $700
Filing fee for the Form I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status: $1,140 (Any additional family members is $750)
Note: EB-1C is not eligible for premium processing.
The applicant may use consular processing if they are outside of the U.S. The processing charge for consular visas for employment-based green cards is $325.
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