The L-1 visa is designed for intra company transfers. It allows multinational companies the opportunity to transfer employees qualified from their overseas offices to their U.S. operation. The L-1 visa is a great tool for multinational companies looking to expand their business in the United States.
Understanding the L-1 Visa
L-1 visas fall into two categories:
- L-1A: For executives or managers who have been employed by the company in a managerial capacity for at least 3 years.
- L-1B: Specialized knowledge workers with a minimum of one year experience in the field.
Key Requirements
The following criteria must be met to qualify for an L-1 Visa:
- Existing Relationship: There must be a genuine employer-employee relation between the foreign company and the transferee.
- U.S. Entity: This entity must be the U.S. subsidiary, affiliate or branch office of a foreign company.
- Specialized Knowledge: Transferees must have specialized knowledge which is vital to the