L Visas
/ Non-immigrant visas
L visas are a set of non-immigrant visas that are designed for intracompany transferees who work for multinational companies and are being transferred to a U.S.-based office or subsidiary of the same company. These visas facilitate the transfer of employees with specialized knowledge or in managerial or executive roles between a foreign company and its U.S. operations. There are two primary categories of L visas: L-1A and L-1B.
L-1A Visa: Intracompany Transferee - Executive or Manager
- The L-1A visa is for intracompany transferees in managerial or executive roles. To qualify for an L-1A visa, the employee must have been employed by the foreign company for at least one continuous year out of the three years preceding the application, and they should be transferred to the U.S. to work in a managerial or executive capacity;
- Managers are individuals who primarily supervise the work of other employees, while executives are individuals who primarily make decisions and set company policies.
L-1B Visa: Intracompany Transferee - Specialized Knowledge
The L-1B visa is for intracompany transferees with specialized knowledge. To qualify for an L-1B visa, the employee must have been employed by the foreign company for at least one continuous year out of the three years preceding the application, and they should be transferred to the U.S. to work in a capacity that involves specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, or processes.
Key points about L visas include:
- L visa applicants must work for a multinational company that has a qualifying relationship between the foreign entity and the U.S. entity (e.g., parent company, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office);
- The duration of L-1A and L-1B visas may vary, with L-1A visa holders typically eligible for a maximum initial period of 3 years, extendable up to 7 years, and L-1B visa holders eligible for a maximum initial period of 3 years, extendable up to 5 years;
- Spouses and dependent children of L visa holders may be eligible for L-2 visas, which allow them to accompany the primary visa holder to the U.S. and may also provide work authorization for the spouse.
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Kananchuk Law Office can help you ensure that you meet all the criteria for the specific L visa category. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
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