Is working from India/Outside US for a year on US Payroll count towards EB1C requirement?

[Ravihere]

Hi experts,

i am working on H1B in US for the last 12 years. My company wants to send me to India to work from there (Company's Office) for sometime on a project, maybe for few months and then come back to US. I will be on US Payroll all this time even though i am working from India for sometime.

Question: If i spend 1 year in India working from there in company's office but my payroll will be continuing in US. When i come back to US after a year would this 1 year count towards my qualification under EB1C category where a Multinational Manager needs to work outside US for a year within past 3 years of his job in the same company, provided my payroll will still be US payroll and i will still be on H1B visa during this 1 year time?

would appreciate your feedback and direction.

thanks