When companies have international offices and employees worldwide, there can be a need for employees to transfer to different locations within the company. If an American company needs to bring a foreign employee from an international location, then that company needs to seek and obtain the appropriate visa for the employee. For certain types of employees, an L-1 Visa can be the answer.

What is an L-1 Visa?

The L-1 Visa allows United States employers to petition for the transfer of executives, managers, and specialized workers. The L-1 Visa is further broken into two categories, the L-1A Visa and the L-1B Visa. The L-1A Visa is reserved for the executives and managers of a company. These are people who hold an authoritative role within the company. The L-1B Visa is reserved for employees who have specialized knowledge or skills that are indispensable to the company. These are people who assist those in the authoritative roles covered by L-1A Visas.

The L-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa and is meant for those workers who plan to stay in the United States temporarily. Immigrant visas are for individuals that are planning to stay and live in the United States permanently. There are no caps on the number of L-1 Visas that can be granted yearly.

Who is Eligible for an L-1 Visa?

There are specific eligibility requirements for L-1 Visas. Both L-1A and L-1B Visas require that you work for a qualifying organization for one continuous year abroad, and this work year must have taken place within the three years before your admission to the United States.

L-1A Visas require the individual to seek to work in an executive role with the employer, while L-1B Visas require the individual to work in a specialized supporting role with the employer. L-1A and L-1B Visas are initially valid for three years and can be extended. If you have legal questions, then call us so we can help!

Get Professional Assistance

To schedule a consultation with  experienced Palm Beach immigration attorney Jacqueline Delgado, call Delgado Law Group at (561) 342-1429 or schedule a consultation here.