To qualify for an L visa, certain qualifications must be met by the sponsoring employer.
L Visas
L VISAS
The L visa is a non-immigrant visa for intracompany transferees in the U.S. It allows multinational companies to transfer certain employees from foreign offices to work temporarily in the U.S.
L-1A VISA
The L-1A is a nonimmigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to transfer executive managers from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the U.S. Additionally, this visa type may be used by a foreign company to work on establishing an affiliated office where one does not already exist. Remember that to qualify for this visa type, the employer and employee must show that:
The employer has a qualifying relationship with a foreign company and is currently or will be doing business as an employer in the U.S. and at least one other country.
To qualify, the named employee must also have worked for a qualifying organization abroad for one continuous year within the three years preceding their admission into the U.S. and seek to enter the U.S. to work in an executive or managerial capacity.
L-1B VISA
The L-1B is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee who possesses specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interest from an affiliate foreign office to one of its offices in the U.S. A foreign company may also use this classification to work on establishing affiliate office where one does not already exist. Remember that to qualify for this visa type, the employer and employee must prove that:
The employer has a qualifying relationship with a foreign company and is currently or will be doing business as an employer in the U.S. and at least one other country.
The employee must have worked for a qualifying organization abroad for one continuous year within the three years preceding their admission into the U.S. and seek to enter the U.S. to use their specialized knowledge to work for a branch of the same employer or one of its qualifying organizations.
L-2 VISA
An L-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa category that allows spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old of L-1 visa holders to accompany them to the U.S. It will enable dependents to live and study in the U.S. for the duration of the L-1 visa holder's authorized stay. In many cases, L-2 visa holders may also apply for work authorization, enabling them to seek employment in the U.S. while their spouse or parent maintains L-1 status. To qualify for an L-2 visa:
Individuals must demonstrate their relationship as a spouse or unmarried child under 21 years old of an L-1 visa holder.
They must provide evidence of the L-1 visa holder's approved status and intent to work in the United States.
L VISA APPLICATION PROCESS
Find an Attorney
01
Work with an attorney to develop documents to show eligibility criteria is met, including getting a detailed draft of the position and accompanying duties and gathering necessary supporting.
File I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
02
If the worker is already present in the U.S. on another valid visa, an approved I-129 Change of Status to that of L1-A or L-1B will grant authorization to begin the sought employment.
Submit a DS-160 Application
03
Proceed to the consular processing steps, which, depending on the country of nationality, may include completing a DS-160 application and/or obtaining a consular appointment for application adjudication.
TYPICAL L VISA TIMELINE
Initial Preparation
01
Develop supporting documents to clearly show eligibility criteria are met, including gathering individual and corporate records and creating a detailed draft of the position description and accompanying duties. This usually occurs several months before the official filing of applications.
File I-129 with USCIS
02
Process times vary but can take several months unless premium processing is requested to expedite adjudication.
Consular Processing
03
If necessary, follow consular processing procedures specific to the country where processing will occur. Varies from several weeks to several months, depending on location and country conditions.
Consult with an expert immigration lawyer to ensure successful L visa approvals.
Working with immigration and employment experts can open doors for additional opportunities. Our team’s extensive expertise allows us to combine legal and creative strategies to ensure successful immigration and employment.