EB-1C
VS
H-2B
Type
Green card
Nonimmigrant visa
Description
Multinational Executives and Managers
Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
Profiles that typically qualify
Corporate executives, High-level managers, Business owners
Landscapers, Hospitality workers, Construction workers, Technicians, Retail staff
Requirements
The U.S. job must be in an executive or managerial capacity.
You must have been employed by a foreign branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the U.S. sponsor.
You must have worked for the foreign company for at least one year within the three years preceding the visa application.
The sponsoring company must have been operating in the U.S. for at least one year.
Employers must demonstrate a temporary need, which is limited to up to three years for a one-time need or 10 months for seasonal, peak load, or intermittent needs.
Employers must provide evidence that there are no U.S. workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform the temporary work.
Employers must certify that hiring H-2B workers will not negatively impact the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
Pros
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
No labor certification is required, simplifying the application process.
Offers the fastest pathway to a green card among EB categories.
The application process closely mirrors the L-1A visa process and uses similar documentation.
Direct path to citizenship after 5 years.
Does not focus on individual credentials, making it accessible to a wide range of applicants.
Allows U.S. employers to address temporary labor shortages in non-agricultural sectors.
Flexible in meeting seasonal, peak load, and intermittent labor needs.
Cons
Requires sponsorship and a specific job offer from a U.S. company with a qualifying relationship to the foreign company.
Limited to multinational executives and managers, significantly restricting eligibility.
Subject to semi-annual quotas and a rigid lottery-based application process.
Employers must undergo a rigorous certification process to prove the unavailability of U.S. workers.
Spouses and dependents do not receive work authorization.
Sponsorship
Required
Required
Validity period
Permanent residency
Duration of labor certification, up to 1 year, renewable for a total of up to 3 years
Renewable
Every 10 years
Renewable up to 3 years
Without premium processing
10-18 months1
5-6 months
With premium processing
45 business days2
15 business days
Can spouse work
Yes
No
Disclaimers
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available only for the first stage of the process, while the second stage typically takes an additional 9-18 months.
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Type
EB-1C
Green card
H-2B
Nonimmigrant visa
Description
EB-1C
Multinational Executives and Managers
H-2B
Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
Profiles that typically qualify
EB-1C
Corporate executives, High-level managers, Business owners
H-2B
Landscapers, Hospitality workers, Construction workers, Technicians, Retail staff
Requirements
EB-1C
The U.S. job must be in an executive or managerial capacity.
You must have been employed by a foreign branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the U.S. sponsor.
You must have worked for the foreign company for at least one year within the three years preceding the visa application.
The sponsoring company must have been operating in the U.S. for at least one year.
H-2B
Employers must demonstrate a temporary need, which is limited to up to three years for a one-time need or 10 months for seasonal, peak load, or intermittent needs.
Employers must provide evidence that there are no U.S. workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform the temporary work.
Employers must certify that hiring H-2B workers will not negatively impact the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
Pros
EB-1C
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
No labor certification is required, simplifying the application process.
Offers the fastest pathway to a green card among EB categories.
The application process closely mirrors the L-1A visa process and uses similar documentation.
Direct path to citizenship after 5 years.
H-2B
Does not focus on individual credentials, making it accessible to a wide range of applicants.
Allows U.S. employers to address temporary labor shortages in non-agricultural sectors.
Flexible in meeting seasonal, peak load, and intermittent labor needs.
Cons
EB-1C
Requires sponsorship and a specific job offer from a U.S. company with a qualifying relationship to the foreign company.
Limited to multinational executives and managers, significantly restricting eligibility.
H-2B
Subject to semi-annual quotas and a rigid lottery-based application process.
Employers must undergo a rigorous certification process to prove the unavailability of U.S. workers.
Spouses and dependents do not receive work authorization.
Sponsorship
EB-1C
Required
H-2B
Required
Validity period
EB-1C
Permanent residency
H-2B
Duration of labor certification, up to 1 year, renewable for a total of up to 3 years
Renewable
EB-1C
Every 10 years
H-2B
Renewable up to 3 years
Without premium processing
EB-1C
10-18 months1
H-2B
5-6 months
With premium processing
EB-1C
45 business days2
H-2B
15 business days
Can spouse work
EB-1C
Yes
H-2B
No
Disclaimers
EB-1C
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available only for the first stage of the process, while the second stage typically takes an additional 9-18 months.
H-2B
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