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L-1A & L-1B Intracompany Transfer Visas
Tatiana Aristova, Esq. (Admitted in PA, NJ)
Member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)REQUEST A CONSULTATIONThe L-1 visa lets multinational companies transfer key personnel from a foreign office to a related U.S. office. The L-1A is for managers and executives; the L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, or processes. It is one of the most effective tools for expanding a business into the United States.
Tatiana S. Aristova, Esq. has spent over 25 years on business-immigration matters and brings an NYU MBA to L-1 cases — helping companies prove the qualifying corporate relationship, document the transferee's role, and even open a new U.S. office.
Whether you are relocating a senior leader, transferring specialized talent, or establishing a U.S. presence for the first time, Ms. Aristova will build a strong petition and map the path toward permanent residency — EB-1C for L-1A managers and executives, or labor certification (PERM) for L-1B specialized-knowledge transferees.
Who Qualifies For An L-1 Visa?
The L-1 visa lets a U.S. company transfer an employee from a related foreign office. It comes in two types — L-1A for managers and executives, and L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge — and both rest on a genuine qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities.
L-1A — Managers & Executives
For transferees coming to manage the organization, a department, or function, or to direct the business:
- 01A qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign entity (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate)
- 02At least one continuous year of employment abroad within the preceding three years
- 03That foreign employment was in a managerial or executive capacity
- 04You are coming to the U.S. to work in a managerial or executive role
- 05For a new U.S. office: evidence it can support an executive/managerial position within one year
L-1B — Specialized Knowledge
For transferees with special knowledge of the company's products, services, research, systems, or procedures:
- 01The same qualifying corporate relationship between the U.S. and foreign entity
- 02At least one continuous year of employment abroad within the preceding three years
- 03Specialized knowledge of the company's product, service, technique, or proprietary processes
- 04That qualifying year of employment abroad must have been in the specialized-knowledge position
- 05You are coming to a role that genuinely requires that specialized knowledge
- 06For a new U.S. office: evidence the office is secured and able to support the position
L-1A vs. L-1B — Which Transfer Fits?
Both L-1 categories require the same corporate relationship and one year of foreign employment, but they differ in the role being transferred and how long you can stay. Here's how they compare.
| L-1A Manager / Executive | L-1B Specialized Knowledge | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Managers and executives transferring within a multinational company. | Employees with specialized knowledge of the company's operations. |
| Core requirement | Managerial or executive capacity, both abroad and in the U.S. | Specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, or processes. |
| Qualifying relationship | Parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate relationship required. | Parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate relationship required. |
| Foreign employment | 1 continuous year abroad in the past 3 years. | 1 continuous year abroad in the past 3 years. |
| Maximum stay | Up to 7 years total. | Up to 5 years total. |
| Path to a green card | A path is possible to EB-1C multinational manager/executive permanent residency. | Path to residency typically through PERM and EB-2 or EB-3. |
The L-1 Process, Step By Step
Confirm The Qualifying Relationship
We verify the corporate relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities and gather the ownership and control evidence USCIS expects.
Establish The Foreign Employment Year
We document at least one continuous year of qualifying employment abroad within the past three years.
Define The Role
We build the case that the position is managerial/executive (L-1A) or genuinely requires specialized knowledge (L-1B), with detailed role and organizational evidence.
File The I-129 Petition
We prepare and file Form I-129 with the L supplement — or use a blanket L petition where the company qualifies — including new-office evidence when applicable.
Approval, Processing & Extensions
After approval, we guide consular processing or change of status, dependent L-2 visas, and extensions — and plan toward permanent residency, typically EB-1C for L-1A managers and executives, or PERM labor certification (EB-2/EB-3) for L-1B.
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