The L-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa designed to make it easier for foreign specialists to temporarily relocate to the United States in order to work in a branch office of their organisation.
An intra-company transfer visa, often known as one that enables its bearer to be legally recognised as such, enables intra-company transfers. In other words, it enables a foreign employee to transfer lawfully for employment at one of the foreign company's connected U.S. offices. The professional personnel can continue working for their parent company's branch or subsidiary in the US after they arrive there.
Who Qualifies for a Visa for Intra-Company Transfer?
Only workers in executive or management positions or those with specialised expertise crucial to the running of the firm are eligible for the intra-company transfer visa.
According to a US immigration lawyer in UK, “Successful candidates must have spent at least one year of the three years before to applying working for the same company in a foreign country.”
They also need to be very knowledgeable about the company's goods, processes, and methodologies.
There are two levels of the L-1 Visa:
- Executive managers: L-1A
- L-1B designation for "workers with specialised knowledge"
International employees wishing to enter the United States to attend conferences or take part in training are ineligible for this permission. In this situation, you must submit an application for a business visitor visa.
Candidates who meet the requirements must be moved to work for the same firm in the US or to a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate business.
What requirements do employers have for L1 visas?
Foreign enterprises must first qualify for L-1 classification by fulfilling the following conditions in order to be able to apply for L-1 Visas on behalf of their employees through a US immigration lawyer in UK.
The employer is presently operating in or will soon be operating in the United States and at least one other nation as an employer. The employer has a qualifying connection with a foreign firm (eligible organisations are a parent company, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate). Additionally, throughout the L-1 visa holder's stay in the US, this business must be conducted directly or via a recognised organization.
What are the requirements for L-1 visas for employees?
The following criteria must be met by employees in order to be eligible for the L-1 visa:
- Your business must provide a sponsorship guarantee for your application.
- Your local business and your U.S. organisation must be connected via a qualified organisation.
- The individual must have spent the preceding three years working consistently for their foreign employer for a duration of 12 months.
- You must be employed by your employer both in the United States and in your country of residence.
- For the L-1A Visa, you must be employed in a managing or executive position.
- If you are applying for an L-1B visa, the employee must be a specialised knowledge worker.
How long may I remain in the United States on an L1 visa?
Those with an L-1A visa, who are in an executive or managing capacity, may initially stay in the country for three years. With a maximum stay of seven years, they may request extensions of up to two years if necessary.
Specialized Knowledge Staff (L-1B Visa) are given a three-year initial authorised stay and have the option of applying for a two-year extension for a five-year maximum stay.
You cannot apply for a new L or H Visa status until you have returned to your home country for at least a year after your maximum permitted duration has ended. Regardless of which L1 subclass you belong to, this holds true.
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