L-1 Visa

For companies with locations in the United States and outside the United States, this nonimmigrant visa is a useful means to permit transfer and legal U.S. employment of certain employees from a foreign location to the U.S. The are not quota limits and dual intent is allowed, meaning that while on a person is on an L-1 visa (temporary stay), that person can pursue an immigrant visa to stay in the U.S. on a permanent basis.

Unfortunately, this visa category is only available to select employees: Persons filling an executive or managerial capacity and those filling a “specialized knowledge” position. Related nonimmigrant visas allow for spouses and children, and spouses can apply for permission to legally work in the U.S.



This visa category is also ideal to foreign companies wishing to set up a related U.S. company. Related means the foreign and American company must have a parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office relationship. Document needs are extensive, the employee must have worked for one of the companies for one year out of the last three, and an approved visa is usually for three years at the start, the two renewals of two years each for executives/managers and one two-year renewal for specialized knowledge individuals.