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L1 visa process allows multinational companies to transfer employees from a foreign office to a U.S. office. Does this answer your question?

The L-1 visa is a popular choice for multinational companies to transfer key personnel to the United States. It allows them to manage operations, oversee projects, and share specialized knowledge while maintaining the company’s global presence.

The L-1 visa is divided into two subcategories:

L-1A Visa: This category is for managers and executives who are being transferred to a U.S. office that is a subsidiary, branch, affiliate, or parent company of a foreign employer. 

L-1B Visa: This category is for employees with specialized knowledge who are being transferred to a U.S. office of the same multinational company. Specialized knowledge typically refers to advanced knowledge or expertise in the company’s products, processes, technology, or other areas.

L1 Visa Eligibility:-

To be eligible for an L-1 visa, both the employee (visa applicant) and the employer (sponsor) must meet specific eligibility requirements. Here are the general eligibility requirements for the L-1 visa:

For the Employee (L-1 Applicant):

Employment with a Qualifying Organization: The employee must be currently employed by a qualifying multinational organization with a relationship to the U.S. employer. The organization must be a parent company, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office of the U.S. entity.

Position Qualification: For L-1A (Managers/Executives), the employee must be coming to the U.S. to work in a managerial or executive capacity. This typically involves overseeing a significant portion of the organization’s operations or managing a critical function. For L-1B (Specialized Knowledge), the employee must possess specialized knowledge of the organization’s products, services, technology, or procedures. Specialized knowledge means advanced knowledge that is not commonly possessed by other employees in the industry.

One Year of Employment: The employee must have worked for the foreign company continuously for at least one year within the three years immediately preceding the L-1 visa application. This period of employment must have occurred outside the U.S. 

For the Employer (Sponsor):

Qualifying Relationship: The U.S. employer must have a “qualifying relationship” with the foreign entity employing the visa holder. This includes parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office relationships. The organizations should demonstrate a significant level of control or ownership by the same parent or entity.

Conducting Business in the U.S.: The U.S. employer must be actively doing business in the U.S. and must have a physical office or facility where the employee will work. In the case of a new office, the U.S. entity must demonstrate a plan to support the employee’s position.

Employment Offer: The U.S. employer must extend a valid employment offer to the employee and be willing to file an L-1 petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the employee’s behalf.