Transfer Visa for Executives and Managers L-1 Visa

The L-1 visa is a non-immigrant work visa for employees of multinational companies who are transferred from an office abroad to an office in the United States. There are two types: L-1A for executives and managers (up to 7 years), and L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge (up to 5 years).

L-1A is for executives (make high-level decisions) and managers (supervise employees or operations), with maximum duration of 7 years. L-1B is for employees with "specialized knowledge" — unique or advanced expertise in the company's products, services, processes, or procedures — with maximum duration of 5 years.

Requirements: (1) your current company and the U.S. company have qualifying relationship (parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate); (2) you have worked for the company at least 1 continuous year of the last 3 years; (3) that year was in executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity; (4) you are coming to the U.S. to work in one of those same capacities.

Yes. The L-1 "new office" allows a company to establish a new U.S. office and bring an executive/manager to start it. Initial approval is for only 1 year, and to extend, the company must demonstrate it now actually operates (sales, employees, physical office, documented commercial activity).

Yes, indirectly. L-1A is the "fast track" to EB-1C (Green Card for multinational managers/executives), because both share similar requirements. Many L-1A holders get their Green Card via EB-1C without leaving the country. L-1B can also lead to Green Card but typically via EB-2 or EB-3, which takes more time.

Yes. The L-1 holder's spouse gets L-2 visa and, since 2022, automatically receives work authorization (does not need to separately apply for EAD). Children under 21 get L-2 dependent and can study but not work.

It is a program for large companies that need to frequently transfer many employees. Once USCIS approves the Blanket L (the company demonstrates being a large multinational with track record), individual employees apply directly at embassy/consulate without needing case-by-case I-129, which greatly speeds up the process.

I-129 takes 2–4 months with regular processing, or 15 business days with Premium Processing ($2,805 USD additional). If you are outside the U.S., add 1–4 weeks for consular processing after approval.

The company must document: (1) the qualifying relationship between the two entities (organizational charts, certificates of incorporation, share ownership), (2) active operations in both countries, (3) the executive/managerial/specialized position in the U.S. (detailed job description, org chart), (4) that the employee held that same position abroad for the required year.

USCIS fees: I-129 $1,015 USD + Fraud Prevention $500 USD + asylum $600 USD + optional Premium Processing $2,805 USD. Large companies with more than 50 employees and >50% of workforce on L or H must pay additional fee of $4,500 USD. Legal fees vary between $5,000 and $12,000 USD depending on complexity.