L-1 Visa
Intra-Company Guide
The L-1 visa is the primary tool for multinational corporations to transfer key talent to their U.S. operations. No lottery, no cap, and no prevailing wage requirements.
What is an L-1 Visa?
The L-1 visa is designed for multinational companies to transfer executives, managers, or employees with specialized knowledge from one of its foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States.
Crucially, this visa enables foreign companies that do not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing a "New Office."
Visa Categories
- L-1A: For Executives & Managers. Maximum 7-year stay. Path to EB-1C Green Card.
- L-1B: For Specialized Knowledge professionals. Maximum 5-year stay.
- New Office L: For startups. Initial 1-year approval.
Eligibility Matrix
Both the company and the employee must qualify for L-1 status.
Company Requirements
- Qualifying relationship (parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch).
- Doing business as an employer in the U.S. and at least one other country.
- Active and continuous provision of goods and services.
Employee Requirements
- Employed abroad for 1 continuous year in the last 3.
- Working in a Managerial, Executive, or Specialized Knowledge capacity.
- Clear plan for U.S. role in a specific qualifying capacity.
The EB-1C Advantage
L-1A visa holders have a significant advantage when it comes to permanent residency. Because the L-1A and the EB-1C Green Card requirements are nearly identical, most L-1A managers can bypass the PERM Labor Certification.
*EB-1C is for Multinational Managers and Executives. It is typically a faster path to a Green Card than EB-2 or EB-3.
Blanket L-Petitions
For large multinational companies, we help establish "Blanket L" approvals. This allows the company to transfer employees without filing individual petitions with USCIS, significantly reducing the timeline to just a few weeks.
- Accelerated processing times.
- Lower overall filing costs.
- Streamlined consular interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't have a U.S. branch yet?
You can apply for a "New Office" L-1. This is granted for 1 year, allowing you to secure premises and hire U.S. staff. After the first year, we help you apply for an extension.
Is there a required salary for L-1?
Unlike the H-1B, there is no "Prevailing Wage" requirement. However, the salary must be commensurate with the professional position and the location of the office.
Can my spouse work?
Yes! Spouses of L-1 visa holders (L-2 status) receive "Employment Authorization Incident to Status," meaning they can work for any U.S. employer from day one.
Launch Your U.S. Expansion
Our firm manages L-1 petitions for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups alike. Get the legal precision your business move deserves.
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