The L1 visa, also known as the intracompany transfer visa, is a temporary nonimmigrant visa that allows international companies with offices in the US and offices abroad to transfer certain qualified employees to their US office.
Initially, the US-L1 visa was created in order to lawfully transfer foreign executives or executives with specialized or advanced knowledge to large multinational companies in the USA. Now the L1 visa for the USA also helps small and young companies to expand their business and services in the USA.
Types of L1 visas
There are two types of L1 visas:
Visa L1A: managers and executives
The L1A visa is for executives and managers who are responsible for overseeing a key function or department of the employer. It facilitates the transfer of managers and executives to a US branch to work or to create a new branch of the company. L1A visas are issued for start-ups for a maximum of 1 year and for existing companies for 3 years. The L-1A visa is valid for up to 7 years, with extension.
Visa L1B: Expertise
The L1B visa is intended for professional employees with professional knowledge, whose skills may be related to a service or product of the company or are necessary for the operation or expansion of the US company. It makes it easier for employees to transfer their knowledge about your company’s product to new US employees. L1B visas are issued for start-ups for a maximum of 1 year and for existing companies for 3 years. The L-1B visa is valid for up to 5 years, with extension.
Requirements and eligibility for the L1 visa
- Employers and employees who meet all of the following L1 visa requirements are eligible for an L-1 visa.
- The employee must have worked at the same company abroad for at least one year before being transferred for the last three years.
- The employee must have been employed in a management or leadership position abroad.
- The employee must be transferred in order to occupy a managerial or managerial position.
- One of the following permitted relationships between U.S. and non-U.S. employers must apply:
- Parent and subsidiary companies
- Branch office and headquarters
- Sister companies owned by a mutual parent company
- “Affiliates” belonging to the same person or persons in approximately the same percentages
Advantages of the L1 visa
L1 visas can be beneficial for the following reasons.
- The holder of the L-1 visa can lawfully live and work in the USA.
- The L-1 visa holder can travel inside and outside the United States.
- Spouses and children under the age of 21 are entitled to accompany the holder of the L-1 visa on the L-2 visa.
- Allows a foreign company that does not yet have an affiliated office in the USA to establish a branch in the USA.
- Spouses of L1 visa holders (holders of an L2 visa) are allowed to work in the USA without restrictions.
- Children of L-1 visa holders can go to school in the USA.
- The L1 visa is a dual-purpose visa. It allows L-1 visa holders to apply for a Green Card from the L1 visa status and acquire a permanent residence.
Validity of the L1 visa
Employees working in the USA on an L1 visa can stay for a maximum of 7 years, depending on the type of L1 visa.
- The maximum initial stay for employees entering the United States to set up a new office is 1 year.
- The maximum initial stay for all other employees is 3 years.
- The maximum stay with extension is 7 years.
- L1 visa extensions are granted for 2 years each.