L-1 Visa: Intra-Company Transfers
The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer employees to their U.S. offices. This visa is ideal for businesses aiming to bring key personnel to manage or expand their operations in the United States.
Categories:
- L-1A Managers and Executives: Designed for employees in managerial or executive positions, enabling them to oversee the company or a significant part of it.
- L-1B Specialized Knowledge: For employees who possess specialized knowledge of the company’s products, services, research, systems, or proprietary techniques.
Requirements:
- L-1A Managers and Executives: Applicants must have been employed by the company abroad for at least one continuous year in the three years prior to the application. The U.S. role must involve managerial or executive responsibilities.
- L-1B Specialized Knowledge: Applicants should also have completed at least one year of continuous employment with the company abroad within the past three years and possess specialized knowledge crucial to the business’s success.
Application Process:
The employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Upon approval, the employee applies for the L-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The initial visa duration is up to three years for L-1A and one year for L-1B, with options for extensions.
Family Members:
Family members, including spouses and children under 21, can accompany the visa holder under the L-2 status. Spouses are eligible to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to work in the U.S., while children can attend school but are not allowed to work.
