L1 Visa General Requirements

Visas L1 to the USA are designed to facilitate moving intracompany transferees to work in America. There are two types of the visa L1:

• L1A: for managers and executives of the foreign company that transfers them to America.
• L1B: for specialists of the foreign company that transfers them to America.

Both managers/executives and specialists are supposed to move to America to establish and work in a new company office in the United States. Thus, the main requirements for the visa L1 are the following:

1. There must be a physical office established in the USA, where the L1 intracompany transferees will be working.
2. The person moving to the USA must have one year of continuous working experience during the last three years in the company that transfers that person to America
3. The company and its newly established office in America must commit to supporting the transferee at least for one year after the L1 petition is approved.

L1A and L1B Visa Other Conditions

In addition to the general requirements for the visa L1, there are some additional conditions for L1A and L1B visas. The main distinction between these two types of visa is that the first is available to managers and executives, and the second is for workers with specialized knowledge (specialists).

Both L1A and L1B applicants will be allowed to stay in the USA for one year. Then, they can renew their visas for up to two years each time. The maximum limit of staying in the USA with L1A is seven, with L1B – five years.

Both L1A and L1B visa workers can bring their families to the USA, including spouses and unmarried children under 21. Spouses and children will get L2 visas with the same period of stay as the principal L1 applicant.

Although L1 is a nonimmigrant visa, it may have a “dual intent.” Namely, an L1 visa holder can have plans to get a Green Card and become a US permanent resident while staying as a nonimmigrant and working for his foreign company in America.

Due Diligence and How Much Your Company Needs to Invest

When applying for the visa L1, there is no such personal due diligence as in the case of EB5 or E2 visas. The L1 program is designed for intracompany transfers. So, it is primarily up to the company which transfers its employees to prove certain things.

First, the person transferred must have worked for that company and received wages for at least one continuous year during the last three years immediately preceding the transfer. The company that moves the L1 applicant must submit supporting documents proving the employment and wages paid. Second, the company should establish a physical office in America, i. e., lease, furnish, and have it ready for employees to come and work there. The office lease agreement and other supporting documents should be submitted to USCIS as well. Third, the company should present evidence that it can support the transferred employees for at least one year from the time they get their L1 visas.

The amount the company will spend varies depending on many things. For instance, what kind of office, where, for how many persons and for what period it leases, how many employees it transfers, and how much they earn in their positions.  

Additional Services

We will take care of all the aspects of applying for the visa L1 and make sure you have the best chances to get it. Starting with your initial consultation, preparation of your documents, and then along the way of the application and verification process – we will be by your side helping on every step of your way. We will help you establish and run your office in New York or another place in the USA.

In addition to that, we are ready to help with other needs you might have when moving and settling in America. First and foremost, since L1 is dual intent visa, you probably want to apply for a Green Card. We will be happy to assist you with that. We also can provide you with timely legal advice and help in other areas of your business. So get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to let you know how we can help you move to America and enjoy your stay here.