US employers who seek to sponsor transfer of foreign national executives and managers of organizations or multinational companies, or employees of foreign companies who possess specialized knowledge, may petition for L Visa. Also, the L1 visa will remain valid only if both the foreign and US companies remain in operation for the duration of the applicant’s stay.
L-1 visa applicant must have worked abroad for an overseas company for a continuous period of 1 year in the 3 years preceding application, and upon entering the US must work for the same employer or its affiliate in the US.
A valid L-1 visa allows unrestrained travel in and out of the US. While in the US, a L-1 intra-company transferee may lawfully seek to become a permanent resident. The dependents of the transferee may live with him, and the spouse may apply for a work permit and engage in employment.
- L-1A (Executives/managers transferred to manage or supervise others or a core function of the organization): Permitted to stay for period of time required by employer, initial visit to not exceed three years. Increments of up to two years may be granted, with total stay to not exceed 7 years.
- L-1B (Employees with specialized knowledge, whose companies have related US branches or partners): Permitted to stay for period of time required by employer, initial visit to not exceed three years. Increments of up to two years may be granted, with total stay to not exceed 5 years.
- L-2 (Family members of L-1 nonimmigrant, including spouse and unmarried children (under 21)): Admission for the same period of time as the principal family member.
L-1 visa applicant must have worked abroad for an overseas company for a continuous period of 1 year in the 3 years preceding application, and upon entering the US must work for the same employer or its affiliate in the US.
A valid L-1 visa allows unrestrained travel in and out of the US. While in the US, a L-1 intra-company transferee may lawfully seek to become a permanent resident. The dependents of the transferee may live with him, and the spouse may apply for a work permit and engage in employment.