L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa Guide

Transferring employees within a multinational company to a US office or subsidiary

What Is the L-1 Visa?

The L-1 visa allows a multinational company to transfer a qualified employee from a foreign office to a US office (or establish a new US office). Unlike H-1B, there's no annual cap and no prevailing wage level selection system — just the employer-employee relationship and qualifying employment history.

L-1A vs L-1B: Which Category?

Requirements

1. Qualifying Relationship

The employer must be the same legal entity (or a parent/subsidiary/affiliate) in both the foreign country and the US. Common structures:

• US parent company transferring foreign subsidiary employee
• Foreign parent company transferring to US subsidiary
• Sister companies under common ownership

2. Employment History

For L-1A (managers/executives): continuous employment with the company abroad for at least 1 year within the 3 years before transfer.

For L-1B (specialized knowledge): same 1-year requirement applies, though specialized knowledge is broader than management role.

3. Specialized Knowledge

For L-1B, specialized knowledge means knowledge that's:

• Advanced expertise in the company products/processes
• Not commonly found in the US labor market
• Significant enough that transferring the knowledge would benefit the US operation

New Office L-1 Requirements

For companies establishing a new US office (first L-1 petition), additional requirements:

• The US office must be operational within 1 year of approval
• Petition must demonstrate the company has sufficient physical premises and financial resources
• Initial L-1A approval limited to 1 year (extendable to 3 years thereafter)
• Initial L-1B approval limited to 1 year (extendable to 3 years thereafter)

L-1 Blanket Petition

Large multinational companies can file a blanket L petition with USCIS. If approved, the company can transfer employees without filing individual I-129 petitions. Requirements:

• US office has been approved for L-1 status within the past 2 years
• US office (or parent/subsidiary/affiliate) has had at least 10 L-1 approvals in the past year, OR
• US company has at least $25 million in annual revenue, OR
• US employer has at least 1,000 US employees

Spouse & Work Authorization

L-2 dependent spouses can apply for work authorization (EAD) and work for any US employer — not just the L-1 employer. They can also start their own business.

After the L-1 Period

L-1A maximum: 7 years. L-1B maximum: 5 years. When the period expires, options include:

• H-1B transfer (if eligible)
• Green card through employer sponsorship (EB-1C, EB-2, EB-3)
• O-1 extraordinary ability (if qualifications are met)

Processing Times

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for L-1 while in the US on another visa?

Yes, via change of status. However, for best results, it's often preferred to apply through a US consulate abroad to avoid "dual intent" concerns during adjudication.

Does the L-1 require a labor certification?

No. Like H-1B, the L-1 does not require PERM labor certification. The employer files directly with USCIS.

Can I work for a different company on L-1?

No. L-1 is employer-specific. You can only work for the petitioning company. Work for other employers requires a separate work authorization.