The L-1 visa lets a multinational company transfer an employee from a foreign office to a related US office. Qualifying turns on two sides of the same relationship: the company must have a qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign and US entities and both must be doing business, and the employee must have worked for the company abroad for at least one continuous year in the past three in a managerial, executive, or specialized-knowledge role. This guide covers the L-1A and L-1B requirements, the special rules for new offices, and the process.
This is general information, not legal advice, and approval is decided by USCIS. Work with a qualified immigration attorney on your petition.
L-1A vs L-1B: which one applies
- L-1A is for managers and executives. It is valid for up to seven years and can lead to an EB-1C green card for multinational managers.
- L-1Bis for employees with specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, or processes. It is valid for up to five years.
Requirements for the employer
- Qualifying relationship. The US and foreign entities must be related as parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.
- Doing business. Both entities must be doing business, meaning the regular, systematic, and continuous provision of goods or services, for the duration of the transfer. Simply having an office or agent is not enough.
Requirements for the employee
- One year of qualifying employment. The employee must have worked for the qualifying organization abroad for at least one continuous year within the three years before admission.
- Managerial, executive, or specialized-knowledge role. The role abroad and the role in the US must both fit one of these categories.
New office L-1: the extra requirements
A new office petition covers a US entity that has been doing business for less than one year. Because there is little operating history, USCIS asks for more evidence, and a business plan carries real weight here. For a new office you must additionally show:
- Secured physical premises for the new US office.
- For an L-1A manager or executive, evidence the US entity will grow large enough to support that role within one year, including an organizational structure and hiring plan.
- The financial ability of the foreign entity to start the US office and pay the employee.
Initial new-office L-1A petitions are usually approved for one year; extensions then require proof the office actually grew as planned.
Opening a US office on an L-1?
We write L-1 new-office plans that show the corporate relationship, secured premises, a hiring plan, and funded five-year projections, the evidence USCIS looks for, revised to your attorney's strategy.
Request a quoteThe L-1 process and timeline
The US employer files Form I-129 with USCIS. Premium processing is available for a faster decision. Large companies that meet the volume thresholds can use a blanket L-1 to pre-qualify the corporate relationship and transfer employees more quickly. After approval, applicants outside the US complete consular processing and an interview.
L-1 to green card
The L-1A is a strong stepping stone to permanent residence because its requirements map closely onto the EB-1C category for multinational managers and executives, which does not require labor certification. The L-1B path to a green card usually runs through EB-2 or EB-3 and the PERM process.
Comparing L-1 with other options
The L-1 centers on an existing corporate relationship rather than a personal investment. If you are weighing an investment route instead, see the E-2 visa requirements or the EB-5 visa requirements. Our immigration business plan service writes L-1 new-office plans alongside E-2 and EB-5.
