L1 Visa
Intracompany Transfer

L-1 visa for intracompany transfer

The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer key employees to their offices, branches, or subsidiaries in the United States. It is divided into L-1A for managers and executives, and L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge. The applicant must have worked for the company abroad for at least 1 continuous year within the last 3 years.

The petition is filed by the U.S. company with USCIS (Form I-129). The L-1 holder's spouse can obtain work authorization (EAD) with an L-2 visa. For companies that carry out frequent transfers, the Blanket L modality is available, which streamlines the process. The L-1A visa can be a pathway to permanent residency (green card) through the EB-1C category.

Main requirements

• Employment relationship of at least 1 continuous year with the company abroad (within the last 3 years)
• The company must have a presence in the U.S. (office, branch, subsidiary, or parent company)
• I-129 petition filed by the U.S. entity
• Proof of managerial/executive role (L-1A) or specialized knowledge (L-1B)
• Corporate documentation demonstrating the relationship between the entities
• DS-160 form and consular documentation

Duration and renewal

L-1A: up to 7 years. L-1B: up to 5 years. For new companies in the U.S., the initial approval is for 1 year. Renewable in 2-year increments.

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