An L1 Visa USA , also called an intracompany visa, allows foreign companies to transfer qualified employees to the U.S. in an executive or managerial position or a specialized knowledge capacity. The U.S. company must be a parent, subsidiary, branch office, or affiliate of the foreign company.
Take note that the L-1 visa is not eligible for a self-petition. An employer must file the petition on behalf of the transferring employee.
L-1 Visa Types
L1-A
The L-1A visa is for employees occupying a managerial or executive position transferring to a U.S. office or coming to the U.S. to set up a new U.S. office. This visa classification has a allows a maximum period of 7 years
L1-B
The L-1B visa is for a specialized knowledge worker transferring to the U.S. office and having special skills or knowledge. This visa classification allows for a maximum stay of 5 years.
Eligibility Criteria
Individual
To be eligible, there are a few conditions the transferring employee must meet:
They must be employed overseas by the transferring company or organization for at least a year within the past 3 years before their transfer; and
They must be working in an executive or managerial capacity or as a specialized knowledge employee.
Company
There are a few conditions the employer must meet to be eligible for an L-1 petition:
There must be a qualifying relationship between the U.S. company and the foreign company. The relationship may be as a parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate.
The foreign company and the US company must be operational and active for the entire duration of the employee employment in the U.S in L-1 status
Specialized Knowledge
Specialized knowledge, on the other hand, means the employee possesses specialized knowledge and expertise with regard to the organization products and processes.
Managerial Capacity
To work in a managerial capacity means managing the organization or department of the organization, supervising and controlling the work of other professional or supervisory employees.
Executive Capacity
Meanwhile, working in an executive capacity means directing the organisation management, establishing the organization goals and policies, exercising wide latitude of discretion in decision-making, and receiving only general direction from higher-level executives.
Davies & Associates offers initial consultations with our experienced lawyers to help you determine if you have a compelling case to apply for an L-1 visa.
L1 Visa Requirements
There are basic requirements that both employers and employees must meet as well before applying for an L-1 visa. For employers, here are the requirements they must meet:
The U.S. company (the branch, subsidiary, parent, etc.) filing the petition must have a qualifying relationship with the parent company.
adequate physical premises must be secured for a new office, if applicable.
The petitioning employer must be engaged in business in the U.S. and another foreign country for the entire period of the employee stay in the U.S.
If you are a transferring employee under the L-1A Visa, here are the requirements you must meet:
You should have worked in the foreign company continuously for a minimum of 1 year within the 3 years before your transfer to the U.S.
You should be working in a managerial or executive position.
You should be transferred to the U.S. subsidiary, parent, affiliate or branch of the same employer to provide your service in a managerial or executive capacity.
You must have the intent to depart from the U.S. upon expiration of your visa.
L1-B
Meanwhile, if you are a transferring employee under the L-1B visa, here are the requirements that you must meet:
You must have worked in the parent company continuously for 1 year within the 3 years before your transfer to the U.S.
You must be transferred to the U.S. subsidiary, parent, affiliate or branch of the same employer to provide your specialized services or knowledge.
Required Documents for L1 Visa Process
To meet the requirements of an L1 visa, you must submit various relevant documents with your petition. Both the petitioning employer and the transferring employee must be cautious in filing the forms and documents as it would lead to possible rejection, delay or denial.
In general, the documents you submit should prove the following:
The qualifying relationship (parent company, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate) between the foreign company and the U.S. company;
That you have worked in the foreign company continuously for at least a year within the 3 years before your transfer;
That you have worked in a managerial or executive capacity or a specialized knowledge position for a foreign company;
You will work in a specialized knowledge, managerial or executive position for a U.S. company.
The foreign company must also include these documents with the application:
Articles of Incorporation and certification of incorporation;
Stock certificates;
Financial statements;
Business tax returns;
Copy of the office lease;
Organizational chart;
Pictures of the business;
Promotional materials; and
Detailed statement from an authorized representative about the ownership and control of the company.
L1 Visa Fees
When filing for an L-1 Visa in 2026, here are the cost of L1 Visa that you should take note of:
Asylum Program Fee: $600 (Standard) / $300 (Small Employers)
Premium Processing Fee: $2,805, which ensures that your case is processed within 15 days
Detection and Fraud Prevention Fee: $500
Public Law 114-113 Fee: $4,500 (Applicable to companies with 50+ employees where 50% are on H-1B/L-1 status)
L1 Visa Application Process
Now that you know the basic eligibilities, requirements and fees surrounding the L-1 visa, here is a breakdown of the process of applying:
Step 1: Hiring and consulting with an immigration lawyer
While not mandatory, hiring and consulting with an immigration lawyer can help you during your application. The L1 visa process can be complex and would require experience, strategy and preparation. An
L1 visa lawyer
can help you with the process and provide you a detailed list of documents that you would need to prepare.
Step 2: Gathering of relevant documents
Once you have consulted with an immigration lawyer, it is time for you to gather all the necessary documents you would need to submit for your application.
Step 3: Filing of the Form I-129 and the L supplement
Take note that an L-1 visa can not be obtained through self-petition, so your U.S. employer would need to file a petition for you. A Form I-129 and an L-supplement need to be filed together with the supporting documents.
L-1 Visa Interview
Once your application has been submitted, you will need to schedule and attend the L-1 visa interview.
L-1 Blanket Petitions
The L1 visa allows petitioning employers who need to frequently transfer L-1 employees to apply for a blanket L petition.
L-1 Visa Extensions
The L-1A visa is initially issued for 3 years and can be extended for 2 separate times in increments of 2 years. The holder can stay for a maximum of 7 years on their L-1A status.
FAQS
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 can stay with you
under an L-1 visa. Your spouse, on the other hand, can also work in the U.S.
without securing an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Yes, it is easier to obtain a green card if you are on an L-1A visa. The L-1
visa is a dual intent visa, which means that you can file for permanent
resident status without violating your L-1 status.
No, you are not permitted to work part-time for any employer while on an L-1
visa.
There is no business size required to be qualified for an L-1 visa. All
businesses can file a petition as long as the eligibilities and requirements
are met, whether they are large-scale, medium-scale or small-scale businesses.
No, you are still permitted to transfer a manager or executive employee to the
U.S. to set up a new U.S. office.
L-1 Visa Solutions by Country of Nationality or Residency
Check out our most frequently asked questions about L-1 Visa L1 Visa FAQs
About the Authors
Mark I Davies, Esq.
Chairman of Davies & Associates; focused on E visa strategy and complex consular filings.
Mark I Davies, Esq. JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Licensed with the SRA (SRA ID: 384468) in the UK, Member Law Society of England & Wales, MBA, Wharton School of Business. Top 10 Investment Visa Lawyer, Licensed (USA), Georgia State Bar.AILA Member.
Area
Details
Education
JD, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | MBA (Finance), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | Chartered Accountant (ICAEW)
Financial Training
Completed Analyst Training Program at a major international bank | Chartered Accountant background with professional training in financial analysis and reporting
Legal Practice
Admitted to practice in Georgia (USA) | Registered Solicitor with the Law Society of England & Wales | Former CMBS lawyer at one of the world’s largest international law firms
Immigration Track Record
15+ years advising HNW investors |
Zero denials for clients advised on source-of-funds compliance in EB-5 | Hundreds of successful EB-5 cases globally
Recognition
Named a
Top 25 EB-5 Immigration Attorney by EB5 Investors Magazine (2018–2023)
Professional Engagements
Lecturer/trainer for other lawyers at AILA, ACA, University of Pennsylvania Law School | Frequent speaker at global investment immigration conferences
We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas, we solve the most complex immigration problems for businesses, investors, individuals, and families.
Several lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand.
Individual seeking 'Impossible' TN Visa
D&A was very detail-oriented and was very thorough in what they did” L1 Visa Client. There was a lot of work on my case and worked on it 24/7 and was very patient answering all my questions.
E2 Visa Client
My case felt complex but D&A managed the whole process carefully and helped me move seamlessly from one stage to the next.
E2 + CBI Client
D&A was my guiding light through the entire EB5 Process.
EB5 Visa Client
I would definitely be a big advocate for the rest of my life for anyone wanting to explore the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme leading to the E2 Visa. The most important thing is a good team behind you.. with Davies & Associates you’re in safe hands… you need someone who can give you all the support at the ground level and, again, you are well take care of by D&A. The people are really warm, very helpful and quite openminded when it comes to business… Not to mention as a passport it’s great from a travel perspective…It’s just 4/5 hours from New York.
Grenada CBI + E2 Visa Client
The entire process of getting an EB5 visa is handled in a professional way by Mark Davies and his team. EB5 is a wonderful option for anyone considering moving to the United States if you have the means. I was hoping to use the H1B route for my children, but it became unreliable and so I looked to the EB5 Visa instead. It is great for anyone who has the resources. Mark gives you the first meetings himself which gives you great comfort. Both Mark and Sanjay are abundantly available and I even had the pleasure of hosting them at my house.
Parent of 2 EB5 Visa Holders
I'm in a process of extending my L1 visa. I submitted a few questions regarding my case and he contacted me back almost immediately both by e-mail and telephone. Unlike other attorneys I met before, he gave me the impression of knowing from the top of his head what kind of visa I have, and what actions had to be taken to extend it. He is very thorough and clear regarding the process and what to expect in terms of timelines and issues that may arise. He is constantly in contact, so you definitely know he's working on your case.
L1B Visa Holder
Mark Davies is a joy to work with. His extensive knowledge, speedy response and attentive service took away all my fears of dealing with immigration and visa applications. He is very generous with his time in explaining every step along the way and I have already and will in the future recommend him to anybody who is looking for an immigration lawyer.
E2 Visa for Small Professional Business With International Offices
Davies & Associates assisted us with an immigration emergency involving my brother's fiancée who was outside the United States. They assisted us in a highly professional manner, working with the relevant US embassy, US immigration and the governments of two other countries. As a result of their efforts the individual involved is now working in the United States. While their knowledge of the law is exemplary what really distinguishes this firm and attorney Davies from any other firm we have worked with is their dedication to customer service and their unrivaled level of professionalism.
Complex Fiancée Visa Need Involving Multiple International Jurisdictions
Several lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand. I have recommended this firm to several friends and colleagues, they do an excellent job every time.
Individual Seeking 'Impossible' TN Visa
I was qualified as a physician in a foreign country. Being on a J1 visa I was facing having to leave the United States and return to my home country. Davies & Associates secured one of only 30 J1 visa waivers available in my State, allowing me to work for a US hospital and remain in the United States.
Doctor Seeking J1 Visa Waiver
I am very satisfied with the services Mark Davies has provided me. He has a very extensive knowledge in immigration laws and has a thorough approach to any case.
Looking to relocate or having trouble with a visa application?
We are known for our creative solutions that obtain
"impossible" visas, we solve the most
complex immigration problems for business, investors, individuals and families.
English
Vietnamese
