L-1 visa

Complete international transfers of executives, managers and specialized employees from your foreign offices with the support of BAL’s expertise in immigration solutions for a global workforce. There are two types of L-1 visa classifications: L-1A for managerial and executive employees and L-1B for employees seeking employment in a similar capacity at a related company outside the U.S.

L-1 visa eligibility requirements

Both L-1A and L-1B visas have three basic requirements:

1

The beneficiary must have worked for at least one continuous year (within the previous three years) as an employee of a related company outside the U.S. in a managerial or executive capacity, or in a role involving specialized knowledge.

2

The U.S. company must have a qualifying relationship with the foreign company as a branch, subsidiary, parent or affiliate.

3

The related companies must be “doing business” in the U.S and in at least one other country for the duration of the beneficiary’s stay in the U.S.

L-1 visa services

Too often employers lose valuable global talent due to immigration and visa compliance issues. BAL’s leading team of immigration attorneys can help employers avoid pitfalls that lead to L-1 visa denials and delays including, but not limited to, insufficient documentation, application inaccuracies and failure to demonstrate specialized knowledge or company viability.

BAL’s award-winning technology leverages one powerful proprietary platform to provide the transparency, speed and quality control necessary to see employers and their nonimmigrant employees through the intricacies of completing the L-1 visa process — from filing the correct forms I-129 and DS-160 to a mobile portal that guides foreign nationals through document and data collection.

What makes us different?

Immigration is all we do.

Since 1980, our sole focus has been helping businesses acquire top talent from around the world.

Technology built for corporate immigration.

Our award-winning, proprietary technology is purpose-built to streamline complex processes, ensure compliance and enable our legal teams to consistently deliver exceptional service.

Incomparable legal expertise.

Our deep bench of attorneys are at the forefront of employment immigration and behind every client helping them succeed.

L-1 FAQs

What are the general qualifications of the employer?

To qualify for L-1 classification in this category, the employer must:

Have a qualifying relationship with a foreign company (parent company, branch, subsidiary or affiliate, collectively referred to as qualifying organizations) and currently be, or will be, doing business as an employer in the United States and in at least one other country directly or through a qualifying organization for the duration of the beneficiary’s stay in the United States as an L-1. While the business must be viable, there is no requirement that it be engaged in international trade.

“Doing business” means the regular, systematic and continuous provision of goods and/or services by a qualifying organization and does not include the mere presence of an agent or office of the qualifying organization in the United States and abroad.

What are the requirements for establishing new offices?

For foreign employers seeking to send an employee to the United States as an executive or manager to establish a new office, the employer must also show that:

The employer has secured sufficient physical premises to house the new office;
The employee has been employed as an executive or manager for one continuous year in the three years preceding the filing of the petition; and
The intended U.S. office will support an executive or managerial position within one year of the approval of the petition.

How long can qualified L-1 employees stay at a new office?

Qualified employees entering the United States to establish a new office will be allowed a maximum initial stay of one year. All other qualified employees will be allowed a maximum initial stay of three years. For all L-1A employees, requests for extension of stay may be granted in increments of up to an additional two years, until the employee has reached the maximum limit of seven years.

Can L-1 employees transfer with their families?

The transferring employee may be accompanied or followed by their spouse and any unmarried children who are under 21 years of age. Spouses and children may seek admission in the L-2 nonimmigrant classification and, if approved, generally will be granted the same period of stay as the employee.

If these family members are already in the United States and seeking changes of status to or extension of stay in L-2 classification, they may apply collectively, with fee, on the Form I-539, Application to Change/Extend Nonimmigrant Status.