L-1 Visa (Intracompany Transferees)

The L‑1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer executives, managers, or employees with specialized knowledge from an affiliated foreign office to a U.S. office. This classification also permits a foreign company to send an executive or manager to the U.S. to establish a new office. It facilitates intra-company transfers and supports global business operations.

Subcategories

1. L‑1A:For employees in executive or managerial roles. Employees opening a new office may stay up to 1 year initially; others up to 3 years. L-1A extensions are granted in 2-year increments, up to a 7-year maximum.
2. L‑1B:For employees with specialized knowledge of the company’s products, services, processes, or procedures. Employees opening a new office may stay up to 1 year initially; others up to 3 years. L-1B extensions are granted in 2-year increments, up to a 5-year maximum.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for L-1A or L-1B classification,

The employer must:

•      Have a qualifying relationship with a foreign company (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate); and
•      Be doing business in the U.S. and at least one other country for the duration of the employee’s stay.
  (The business must be active, but not necessarily engaged in international trade.)

The employee must:

•      Have worked for the qualifying organization abroad for at least one continuous year within the past three years; and
•      Be entering the U.S. to serve as an executive or manager (L-1A) or in a specialized knowledge capacity (L-1B).

Key Definitions

•      Doing business:Regular, systematic, and continuous provision of goods or services by a qualifying organization. It does notinclude merely maintaining an agent or office in the U.S. or abroad.
•      Executive capacity:The authority to make wide-ranging decisions with minimal oversight.
•      Managerial capacity:The ability to supervise professional employees or manage a department, function, or component of the organization – or to manage an essential function at a high level without direct supervision.
•      Specialized knowledge:Possession of unique or advanced knowledge about the organization’s products, services, or processes and their application in international markets.

Family of L-1 Nonimmigrants

•      An L-1 employee’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany or join them under L-2 status, usually for the same duration.
•      L-2S spouses are automatically authorized to work.

Key Advantages

•         Dual intent:Can lead to a Green Card (permanent residence) under the EB-1C category.
•         No annual cap:Unlike some classifications such as H‑1B, L‑1 visas are not numerically limited.
•         Global mobility:Facilitates transfers between U.S. and foreign offices.
•         Blanket petitions: Certain large multinational organizations can pre-establish their intracompany relationship by obtaining blanket L certification, allowing for faster employee transfers.

How Can We Help?

Our firm supports both employers and employees throughout the L‑1 process:

•      Form I‑129 Preparation & Filing: Drafting petitions for L‑1A and L‑1B.
•      Documentation Assistance: Organizational charts, employment verification letters, and proof of qualifying relationships, collecting training records or manuals
•      Amendments & Transfers: Handling changes in duties, job title, or office location.
•      Extensions & Renewals: Preparing petitions to maximize authorized stay.
•      Dependent (L-2) Guidance: Advising on L-2 visa applications and work authorization (EAD) eligibility
•      Compliance & Strategy:Ensuring petitions meet USCIS standards and providing advice on global mobility and dual intent.

Schedule a Consultation

Contact the Law Offices of Metin Serbest to explore your eligibility for the L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa – whether you are a company seeking to transfer key personnel to your U.S. operations or an employee aiming to continue your career in the United States with your current employer.