Short answer: Taiwanese business owners can set up a related US company (subsidiary, branch or affiliate) and go on an L-1 visa to manage it. Once the US company has operated for a year, they can apply for an EB-1C multinational manager or executive green card — no labor certification, and usually a shorter wait.
Basic requirements
| Item | L-1A posting | EB-1C green card |
|---|---|---|
| Your background | A year as a manager or executive at the Taiwan company within the last three years | The same |
| US company | Related to the Taiwan company; a new office gets a shorter first stay | Operating for at least a year |
| Role | Manager or executive in the US | Manager or executive in the US |
| Family | Spouse can work, children can study | Spouse and children under 21 get green cards |
Who it suits
- A Taiwan company of reasonable size with real plans to expand into the US.
- An owner or executive who will genuinely manage a team or key function in the US.
- Those who want status to follow business growth rather than a passive investment.
What USCIS looks at
- The Taiwan company keeps operating: the qualifying relationship must continue.
- A genuine managerial role: mainly managing, not doing day-to-day work yourself.
- US company scale: enough staff and business to support a managerial position.
Compared with EB-5
| L-1 / EB-1C | EB-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Business expansion | Investment |
| Money | Funds US operations | USD 800,000 in a project |
| Uncertainty | Business scale and whether the role counts as managerial | The project and source of funds |
Smaller business owners, or families wanting more certainty, can consider EB-5.
Our advice
Assess whether your Taiwan company’s size and US plans support a managerial role, then choose L-1 / EB-1C, EB-5, or both. As of October 2026.