L1 Visa Costs and L1 Visa Fees

L1 Visa BasicsL1 Visa BlogL1 Visa FAQ

Our success

6

RFEs

1759

L Visas

0

Denials

*after appeal

What is an L-1 Inter-Company Transfer Visa?

An L-1 intercompany transfer visa is used to transfer employees from a business outside the U.S. to a related business inside the U.S.. There are two types of L-1 visa:

  • L1A visas for managers and executives
  • L1B visas for specialist workers

How Much Does an L1 Intercompany Transfer Visa Cost?

There are several costs when applying for an L1 visa. Some of these costs are hidden and are often not evident until later in the L visa process.

1. Unites States Government*

  1. USCIS L1 Visa Fees
  2. There are several costs involved in filing an I-129 Petition. These include:

    i. I-129 Filing Fee. USD 460.
    ii. Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee. USD 500.
    iii. Optional Premium Processing Fee. USD 2,500 (optional)
    iv. Public Law 114-113 Fee. USD 4,500*
    * only applies if the business employs more than 50 people and half of those employees are in L-1A, L-1B, or H-1B status.

  3. US State Department Visa Issuance Fees
  4. i. Visa Application Fee DS160. USD 190
    ii. Visa reciprocity fee. Varies by Country**
    **This fee varies by the county of the applicant’s nationality. The fees can be found on the US State Department’s website .

    For example:
    1. Andorra has an L Visa Reciprocity fee of USD 59.00.
    2. The Singaporean L Visa Reciprocity fee is USD 0.
    3. The Indian L Visa Reciprocity Fee is USD 0.
    4. The L Visa Reciprocity fee for Australian Nationals is USD 1,790.00

  5. State and Incorporation Fees

  6. If you are forming a new U.S. business you may need to pay certain fees to State and local governments. These fees may include:

    i. State Incorporation Fees Vary by State. Typically, a few hundred Dollars
    ii. Fees for any applicable permits or licenses needed to lawfully operate your business. Vary by location and business.
    *All US Government Fees are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change and should be checked on the USCIS website and DOS website.

2. Attorney Fees for L1A and L1B Visa Applications

There are often several types of lawyers involved in a successful L1 visa application process.

  1. Immigration Lawyer Fees
  2. Immigration lawyer fees for filing an L1-A petitions vary. In our experience these range from about USD 5,000 to USD 25,000 or more depending on law firm and scope of services involved.

  3. U.S. Corporate Legal Fees
  4. If you are opening a new business in the United States you will want to make sure that your business is properly incorporated. There are two considerations:

    1. USCIS will expect to see your business has the typical and usual documentation, the extends way beyond basic formation documents.
    2. You also need to protect your business interests as would any U.S. business person. Common documents drafted include:

      1. Basic Formation Documents Approximately USD 2,500
      2. Trademark Filings Varies
      3. Employment Agreements Varies
      4. Tax Registrations and Filings Varies

  5. Non-U.S. Corporate Legal Fees
  6. A well-prepared L-1 visa petition includes various legal opinions and corporate resolutions prepared on behalf of the non-U.S. business. This requires the assistance of a lawyer licensed in the applicable country.

3. Business Plan Fees

To obtain an L1A visa your business may require a business planned prepared to meet the rigorous requirements of U.S. immigration law.

4. Miscellaneous Fees

  1. Travel and Meals. Travel to US consulate for visa issuance.
  2. Overnight Delivery and Copying Fees. Allow approximately USD 500 for these fees. L1 visa petitions can be extremely long and printing and overnighting them can be extremely expensive.

L-1 Visa Solutions by Country of Nationality or Residency

Select your country for more information

How can I Minimize my L-1 Visa Costs?

Although filing fees cannot be avoided other costs can be minimized.

  • Avoiding RFEs, NOIDs and Denials
    1. Correcting RFEs, NOIDs and Denials is extremely costly.
    2. Unfortunately, our firm often has to completely re-file L1 visa cases filed by other firms that have been denied. This usually entails more than doubling the cost of the initial L visa filing.
    3. Good L-1 visa lawyers usually have lower RFE and
    4. Avoid choosing the cheapest immigration lawyer, choose your lawyer based on quality.
  • Choosing the Right Attorneys
    1. Corporate lawyers can save a business owner extensive amounts of money. For example:
      • a well drafted employment agreement can prevent former employees procuring a business’s clients
      • Ensuring a business has all necessary permits and licenses can avoid large and costly fines.
      • Failure to comply with US Government I9 record-keeping requirements can result in larges fines.
    2. In addition to comparing fees compare the scope of services that each lawyer is providing for that fee.
    3. All lawyers are not equal. Obtaining an approval the first time will save you considerable costs:
      • Check a lawyer’s disciplinary record with the applicable State bar
      • Ask for client references and check on-line reviews.
      • Verify a lawyer’s law school and bar admissions
  • Obtain Properly Drafted Corporate Documents
    1. Improperly drafted corporate documentation can result in delays and fines
    2. Ensure you

Top 25 Attorney

Request Free Consultation
 
Satya Choudhury
Satya Choudhury
a week ago

I had a great experience with Davies & Associates. They are very thorough in the approach and their have experts in this field who know the domain very well.I would certainly be leaning onto them for any future needs as well.

hoshino ryuichi
hoshino ryuichi
2 weeks ago

Thanks to them for handling my E2 visa very professionally. I had a study visa from F1 and changed it to E2. I encountered many problems during the application process. Verdie and Etta were very patient in helping me and it took a long time. I highly recommend this place.

Tanuj Dewan
Tanuj Dewan
3 months ago

Outstanding Immigration Attorney: Highly Recommended! Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) I had the pleasure of working with Verdie Atienza and his team at Davies & Associates , a top-notch immigration attorney in the United States. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication throughout the process were exceptional. With in-depth knowledge of immigration law, they provided accurate advice and addressed all my concerns, instilling confidence. Verdie Atienza and his team meticulously reviewed my documentation and maintained excellent communication, keeping me updated regularly. What sets Davies & Associates apart is their unparalleled attention to detail. Communication with Verdie Atienza and his team in USA and Sukanya Raman in India was always prompt and efficient. They promptly returned my calls and emails, providing regular updates on the progress of my case. This level of responsiveness and transparency significantly reduced my stress levels, as I knew I could rely on their support and guidance throughout the entire process. Their personalized approach, ethical conduct, and genuine care for my success made them an outstanding attorney. I highly recommend Davies & Associates for all your immigration needs.

Christine Envall
Christine Envall
5 months ago

Getting my E2 Visa was a very in-depth process that took just over a year from when I committed to it, but 8 months from when I found a business I wanted to purchase. The only reason I'm giving 4 and not 5 stars is because the timeframe was a lot longer than expected from the initial information. Aside from the timing, Verdie and his team led me through the Visa process, providing all the guidance I needed to be successful, including advising me on the RIGHT type of Visa to suit my goals. Within the process I purchased a business and the greater Davies team included lawyer Rinat who helped me put the deal together. One of the biggest parts was my Business Plan which created from my info by Ana Ortiz, who did an incredible job. The process is certainly tedious and Verdie & Christina were always there to answer my questions, provide suggestions and advice and ensure I had all the documents I needed to support my application. I appreciated their patience with my questions and their advice and in the end, the application was so thorough the interview process was quick and easy. I highly recommend Davies & Associates and look forward to working with them again when it's time to renew my Visa.

Peter
Peter
11 months ago

We were in a hurry and Verdie and the team were highly responsive and supportive, even when we threw in some curve balls along the way. We had our visas approved without any issues and felt confident and well prepared for document submissions and the interview. I'd certainly recommend this team for an E2 visa process.

See All Reviews

Looking to acquire an L1 visa?

We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas, we solve the most complex immigration problems for businesses, investors, individuals, and families.

L1 visa Immigration lawyer near me

Looking to relocate or having trouble with a visa applicaton?

We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas, we solve the most complex immigration problems for business, investors, individuals and families.

Request Free Consultation