L-1 Visa

L-1 Visa (Intracompany Transferees)


L-1 visa allows foreign employers to transfer their employees to the United States to work temporarily in the parent, branch, affiliate or subsidiary of the foreign company. To qualify for an L-1 visa, a foreign national must either work:

in executive or managerial capacity (L-1A). An L1A manager is typically someone who manages other employees within the company. The L-1A category can also be used for a functional manager – an employee who does not supervise or control the work of other employees but instead is primarily responsible for managing an “essential function” within the organization (so called “functional manager”, responsible for one area of company’s activity), or,

in a specialized knowledge capacity (L-1B). This category covers those employees who have knowledge of the company’s products/services, research, systems, proprietary techniques, management, or procedures.To secure L-1 petition approval, a foreign national must be employed continuously for one of the past three years by a parent, branch, affiliate or subsidiary of a U.S. company preceding his/her petition.There is a 7 year maximum authorized stay in L-1A status and a 5 year stay in L-1B status.

The doctrine of dual intent also applies to the L-1 category, so a beneficiary of an L-1 visa petition may pursue permanent residence in the U.S.

Contact Partovi Law LLC in northern Virginia for advice on obtaining L-1 visa
We have extensive experience with L-1 visa and can assist you in preparing and obtaining L-1 for you or your company’s employee(s). Please call us at 703-752- 6148 to schedule an appointment.