The L-1 Visa Overview
What is the L-1 Visa?
The L-1 visa is a U.S. non-immigrant visa designed for intracompany transferees, enabling multinational companies to temporarily relocate key employees from their foreign offices to the United States. It’s a widely used option for transferring executives, managers, or professionals with specialized knowledge to oversee operations, lead projects, and support global business continuity.
This guide outlines the L-1 visa’s eligibility criteria, expected costs and processing timelines, and the step-by-step application process.
Important:
Beginning in fiscal year 2025, L-1 visa applicants will be required to pay a non-waivable $250 “visa integrity fee” at the time their visa is issued. This fee is in addition to standard visa application fees and is generally non-refundable, except under limited circumstances after the visa has expired.
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L-1A vs. L-1B Visa
The L-1 visa is divided into two subcategories:
| L-1A Visa | L-1B 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 the foreign employer. | 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. |
L-1 Visa Eligibility
For the Employee (L-1 Applicant):
Employment with Qualifying Organization
The applicant must currently work for a multinational company that has a qualifying relationship with the U.S. entity, such as a parent company, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary.
Appropriate Position
For L-1A visas, the employee must be entering the U.S. to serve in an executive or managerial role—typically overseeing a department, function, or the entire operation.
For L-1B visas, the applicant must demonstrate specialized knowledge related to the company’s services, products, systems, or processes—knowledge that is not widely known in the industry.
Employment Requirement:
The employee must have worked for the foreign company for at least one continuous year within the three years before applying, and this employment must have taken place outside of the United States.
For the Employer (Sponsor):
Qualifying Relationship
The U.S. company must maintain a valid relationship with the foreign business where the employee currently works. Acceptable relationships include a parent company, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch. There must be shared ownership or control by a common parent or entity.
Business Operations in the U.S.
The U.S. entity must be actively conducting business and have a physical office or operational facility. For new U.S. offices, the company must present a solid business plan demonstrating the capacity to support the transferred employee’s role.
Job Offer and Petition
The U.S. employer must provide a formal job offer to the employee and submit an L-1 visa petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on their behalf.
L-1 Visa Cost
The cost of applying for an L-1 visa depends on various factors such as the specific visa type (L-1A or L-1B), whether the petition is new or an extension, and if premium processing is selected.
Generally, filing Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS costs $1,385, or $695 for small employers and nonprofit organizations.
An additional $500 anti-fraud fee may apply in certain cases based on the employer’s situation.
For faster processing, premium processing is available for an extra $2,805.
L-1 Visa Timeline
The processing time for an L-1 visa can vary depending on the USCIS service center where the petition was filed and the complexity of the case. In general, L-1 visas tend to have much faster processing times than other work visa categories.
You can check the current processing times for L-1 visas at specific USCIS service centers here.
Certain applicants may also be eligible to request “premium processing” of their Form I-129 for an additional fee (mentioned above). If approved, USCIS will typically process your L-1 visa application within 15–45 calendar days.
L-1 Visa Process
Sponsoring Employer’s Role:
File Form I-129:
The U.S. employer is required to submit Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) to USCIS. This petition typically includes a comprehensive job description, documentation demonstrating the qualifying relationship between the U.S. company and the foreign entity, and evidence confirming the beneficiary’s eligibility and professional qualifications.
The employer must pay the required filing fees for Form I-129 and any additional fees, such as the anti-fraud fee or premium processing fee, if applicable.
L-1 Visa Applicant’s Role:
Frequently Asked Questions
The H-1B visa is designed for professionals with specialized knowledge, sponsored by a U.S. employer. It requires at least a bachelor’s degree and allows visa holders to switch employers. The visa is initially granted for up to 3 years and can be extended to a maximum of 6 years. There’s no requirement for the applicant to be employed by a foreign company.
In contrast, the L-1 visa is intended for intracompany transferees within multinational organizations. Applicants must have worked for the foreign branch of the company for at least one continuous year within the last three years. Unlike the H-1B, L-1 visa holders can only work for the sponsoring employer. While the initial stay is also up to 3 years, extensions depend on maintaining the qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities.
No, the L-1 visa is not a lottery-based visa category like the H-1B visa. As long as the applicant and the employer meet the specific eligibility requirements and provide the necessary documentation, there is no lottery process involved in obtaining an L-1 visa.
Deciding between the L-1 and H-1B visas depends on your employment background and long-term objectives. The L-1 visa is best for employees of multinational companies transferring to a U.S. branch, and it doesn’t require entry through a visa lottery, making it less competitive. It also provides work authorization for spouses (L-2 visa holders) without restrictions. In contrast, the H-1B visa suits professionals in specialized fields—such as tech or engineering—and offers greater flexibility to change employers, along with a clearer pathway to U.S. permanent residency.
The L-1 visa provides numerous benefits for both multinational companies and foreign employees. It facilitates intracompany transfers without the limitations of an annual cap or lottery, allowing key staff to work in the U.S. more efficiently. Spouses of L-1 visa holders are eligible for work authorization, supporting family income and stability. The L-1 can also serve as a stepping stone to permanent residency and is often processed faster than other employment-based visas. Its adaptability across various roles makes it an essential option for global businesses expanding their U.S. presence.
L-1A and L-1B visa holders are initially granted a stay of either one year (if establishing a new U.S. office) or three years (for all other cases). Extensions are available in set increments. Executives and managers under the L-1A visa can remain in the U.S. for up to seven years, while specialized knowledge workers on the L-1B visa are allowed a maximum stay of five years.
Yes, it is possible to apply for a green card (permanent residency) through an adjustment of status while you are on an L-1 visa. The L-1 visa is a dual intent visa, which means that holders of L-1 visas can have the intent to immigrate to the U.S. permanently while maintaining their temporary work status.
Yes, as long as you comply with the requirements of the VWP, you can travel outside the U.S. and re-enter. However, the total duration of your stay in the U.S. cannot exceed 90 days within a 180-day period.
L-1 visa holders may bring their spouse and unmarried children under 21 to the U.S. on L-2 dependent visas. As of 2021, L-2 spouses are automatically authorized to work in the U.S. without needing to apply for separate employment authorization. However, this work eligibility depends on the L-1 visa holder maintaining valid status. If the L-1 status ends or the job is terminated, it could affect the L-2 spouse’s ability to work legally in the U.S.