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L-1 visa requirements for intracompany transferees: L-1A and L-1B eligibility, branch or representative office setup, and comparisons with H-1B, O-1 and E-2.
11 articles tagged L-1 Visa
An LLC won't get you a visa or a bank account. Here's when a US company actually makes sense for a non-resident — and when it's just extra cost and paperwork.
E-2 and L-1 visa holders can leave the US for extended periods to work abroad. Learn how to meet the requirements and keep your status intact.
L-1A covers managers for up to 7 years, L-1B covers specialized knowledge staff for up to 5. See which foreign employment evidence to lock in early, not at renewal.
E-2, H-1B, L-1, O-1, F-1 STEM OPT: ownership thresholds, W-2 payroll rules, and working for multiple entities on one visa. Common corporate-document mistakes explained.
E-2 investment runs $80,000–$90,000; L-1 can extend to 7 years. A breakdown of O-1, L-1, E-2, H-1B and TN work visas for the US, current as of September 2026.
DHS proposed ending the 60-day grace period for H, L, E, O and TN visa holders after job loss. As of 2026-09-19 it still applies. Here's what changes.
The L-1 is a US nonimmigrant visa that lets a multinational company transfer an employee from a qualifying foreign entity to a related US parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. The employee must have worked for the foreign company for at least one continuous year within the three years before the petition. L-1A covers managers and executives, while L-1B covers staff with specialized knowledge of the company's products, processes or procedures.
The US employer files Form I-129 with USCIS, and large companies that qualify can use a blanket L approval so individual workers apply directly at a consulate. Unlike the H-1B, the L-1 has no annual cap or lottery and no degree requirement. A petition to open a new US office is usually approved for one year at first, and the extension depends on whether the business has actually grown and can support a managerial role.
Total stay is capped at seven years for L-1A and five years for L-1B. Spouses and children receive L-2 status, and L-1A managers often move to a green card through the EB-1C category, which does not require labor certification.