The L-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a foreign company to send an employee to the United States to open its US office or branch. It also enables a US employer to transfer an employee from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. The employees under L-1 visa must be executives, managers, or the ones with specialized knowledge relating to an organization’s interests. 

L-1A visa is for executives and managers and L-1B visa is for employees with specialized knowledge. 

Spouses and children under the age of 21 can accompany applicants to the United States with an L-2 visa. L-2 visa grants work and study permits for the family members.

Requirements

To qualify for an L-1 visa there must be a relationship between the US company and a foreign company. The qualifying relationships are :

• Parent or subsidiary

• Branch office

• Affiliate 

The employee who will be working at the US company must have been employed full time by the foreign company for at least 1 year within the last 3 years. This work experience with the foreign company must have been in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity. At the same time, the employee must be employed at the US company in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity.

How long is an L-1 visa valid?

Employees entering the United States to start an office are allowed a maximum initial stay of 1 year. All other employees are allowed a maximum initial stay of 3 years and their stay in the United States can be extended for up to 7 years.