What is the L1 visa?

The L-1 visa is a U.S. nonimmigrant visa for employees transferring within the same company (or a qualifying related company) from a foreign office to a U.S. office.

It is typically used by international businesses that need to move key talent to the United States, whether to an existing U.S. office or to open a new one.

What are the L-1 visa types?

• L-1A: Managers and Executives
• L-1B: Specialized Knowledge Employees

Which category you pursue depends on your role abroad and the role you will fill in the U.S. The evidence and standards differ between L-1A and L-1B.

L-1A: Managers and Executives

L-1A is intended for employees who will serve in a managerial or executive capacity in the U.S. for the qualifying U.S. entity.

USCIS focuses heavily on your duties (not just your title). You generally need strong documentation showing that you manage professionals, manage a function at a senior level, or direct a major component of the organization.

L-1B: Specialized Knowledge Employees

L-1B is intended for employees who possess specialized knowledge related to the company’s product, service, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests, and its application in international markets.

USCIS will usually evaluate whether your knowledge is genuinely specialized within the context of your company and whether that knowledge is needed for the U.S. role.

What are the L-1 visa requirements?

• Qualifying relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. company (parent/subsidiary/affiliate/branch).
• You must have worked for the foreign company for at least 1 continuous year within the last 3 years prior to admission to the U.S.
• The U.S. role must be managerial/executive (L-1A) or specialized knowledge (L-1B).
• The foreign company must continue operating for the duration of the L-1 assignment.

Evidence is critical. USCIS expects documentation on corporate structure, payroll, job duties, org charts, and the business operations of both entities.

New office L-1: additional considerations

If the U.S. office is newly established, USCIS will evaluate whether the business is real, operating, and capable of supporting the transferred role within a reasonable time.

• Office lease / physical premises evidence
• Business plan and hiring timeline
• Organizational chart showing near-term growth and staffing
• Proof of initial capitalization and operational readiness

How long does the L-1 visa last?

L-1 is granted in increments depending on whether it’s a new office and which category you’re applying for, and can be extended up to the maximum allowed time.

• L-1A: up to 7 years maximum (including extensions)
• L-1B: up to 5 years maximum (including extensions)
• New office petitions are often approved for a shorter initial period, with extensions requiring proof of progress

Can L-1 lead to a green card?

Yes. Many L-1A holders pursue an employment-based green card through EB-1C (multinational managers/executives). L-1B holders often pursue other employment-based categories depending on their background and case strategy.

Evidence: what USCIS typically wants to see

• Corporate ownership documentation, articles of incorporation, and organizational charts
• Payroll records and proof of employment abroad
• Detailed job duty letters for both the foreign role and the U.S. role
• Business operations documentation (clients, invoices, revenue, staff, contracts)
• Proof the foreign entity will remain active during the U.S. assignment

The most common problems are vague job duties, weak org charts, and insufficient proof that the U.S. role is truly managerial/executive (L-1A) or truly specialized knowledge (L-1B).

Common reasons L-1 petitions get denied

• Job duties read like an individual contributor role (for L-1A)
• Insufficient proof of specialized knowledge (for L-1B)
• Weak or inconsistent corporate relationship documentation
• Foreign company appears inactive or not operating
• New office lacks credible operational plan and proof of readiness

L-1 visa interview / next steps

After petition approval (if required for your case), you typically proceed through consular processing abroad or change/extend status within the U.S., depending on your situation.