L-1 Visa for Executives and Companies in the United States
The L-1 visa allows transferring executives, managers, or employees with specialized knowledge from a foreign company to its subsidiary, branch, or affiliate in the United States.
A strategic path to expand operations, open an office in the U.S., and transfer key talent with legal support.
What is the L-1 Visa
The L-1 visa is a nonimmigrant category that allows companies to transfer qualified personnel to their operation in the United States.
It applies both to companies that already have a U.S. office and to companies that need to establish a new office in the U.S.
It requires valid corporate relationship, an executive or specialized role, and evidence of prior continuous employment in the foreign company.
How to Obtain an L-1 Visa as a Company or Executive
If your company seeks to expand to the United States or transfer strategic personnel, the L-1 offers a structured path to operate in the country with corporate backing.
We support companies and professionals from corporate verification to final approval before USCIS or consulate.
- Allows transferring executives, managers, or specialized personnel to the U.S.
- Possibility of establishing a new office in the United States.
- Opening to extend the visa to other key positions according to corporate growth.
- Potential path to permanent residence through EB-1C.
- Spouse can work legally in the U.S. through EAD.
- Children under 21 years old can study in the U.S. without restrictions.
- There must be a corporate relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity (parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate).
- The employee must have worked at least 1 year in the last 3 at the foreign company.
- The position in the U.S. must be executive, managerial, or of specialized knowledge.
- The U.S. company must have real operational capacity or a solid operational plan (if it is a new office).
- Detailed evidence of the role, functions, and corporate structure must be presented.
- Complete documentation of the foreign entity and the U.S. entity.
- Corporate and immigration strategy according to company type and applicant position.
- Structuring of corporate relationship and evidence of operations.
- Preparation of the L-1 package before USCIS or consulate.
- Creation and documentation of the new office in the U.S., if applicable.
- Development of organizational charts, job descriptions, and operational flows.
- Advice for L-2 (family members) and work permits for spouse.
Move your company to the USA with legal support.
Frequently Asked Questions about the L-1 Visa
The L-1A applies to executives and managers; the L-1B to employees with specialized knowledge. The L-1A eventually allows applying for residence through EB-1C.
Yes. The L-1 allows opening a new office in the U.S. as long as the foreign company is real, active, and capable of sustaining operations.
They must have worked at least 1 continuous year within the last 3 before applying.
L-1A: up to 7 years.
L-1B: up to 5 years.
New office: initial approval for 1 year, renewable if the operation grows as projected.
Yes. The spouse with an L-2 visa can receive employment authorization (EAD) and work without restrictions.
The L-1A can be a direct path to residence through EB-1C, as long as the executive meets leadership requirements and the company shows sustained operations.
Yes. While the L-1 is valid, the foreign company must continue operating to maintain the valid corporate relationship.
It depends on the country and type of processing, but generally between 2 and 4 months. USCIS allows premium processing with an initial response in 15 days.