What is an L-1 visa?
The L-1 is known as the intra-company transferee classification. This status allows multinational companies the ability to transfer specialized types of employees within the global company. The blanket L, L-1A and L-1B are all types of L classifications available. This classification is eligible for permanent residency sponsorship.
REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for an L visa, a qualifying relationship must exist between the U.S. company and the company abroad such as parent company, branches, subsidiaries or affiliates. An employee must work for a foreign branch of the company for a minimum of one year prior to requesting L-1 status. An employer must currently (or will) be doing business in the U.S. and at least one other country directly or through a qualifying organization for the length of a beneficiary’s stay.
TYPES
- L-1A: Meant for an employee who currently has an executive or managing role with the foreign company. An employee may hold L-1A status for 7 years. In addition, this classification also allows a foreign company who does not yet have a location in the U.S., the ability to set up a new office by sending an executive/manager to the U.S. with the purpose of establishing of new office in the United States.
- L-1B: Meant for a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the U.S. An employee may hold L-1B status for 5 years. Similar to L-1A, this classification also allows a foreign company who does not yet have a location in the U.S., the ability to set up a new office by sending a specialized knowledge professional to the U.S. with the purpose of establishing of new office in the United States.
- Blanket L: Larger organizations who have established the required intracompany relationship in advance of filing individual L-1A or L-1B petitions on behalf of employees can file a blanket L petition. Once approved, employees of the Blanket L company may apply for their individual L-1 classification at U.S. Embassy or Consulate locations abroad instead of having to file a petition with USCIS. A degree is required for any individual seeking L-1 status via a Blanket L petition.
LENTINI VISAS EXPERIENCE
- L-1A & B: Assist numerous multi-national companies in manufacturing, IT, consulting and other fields in obtaining the temporary intra-company transfer of executives, managers, and specialized knowledge professionals. Throughout the years, we have had more approvals than we can count.
- L-1 New Office: We have assisted global companies in the set-up of their first U.S. new office by helping their executive, managers and specialized knowledge professionals obtain L-1 status to help set up the new U.S. office even with the effects of the pandemic.
- Blanket:
- Sample Client #1: A fast growing, global IT consulting firm has continuously held Blanket L status with numerous amendments along the way as it expands. Through this Blanket L status, at least 10 L-1 classifications have been approved within the past year.
- Sample Client #2: A large manufacturer of beauty plastic packaging products has had many Blanket L transfers over the years.