L-1A intracompany transfers for managers and executives
Transfers managers and executives from a foreign company to a related U.S. company, including new U.S. offices.
Overview
The L-1A visa lets a multinational company transfer a manager or executive from a foreign office to a related U.S. office. It is often used by business owners who want to open or grow a U.S. branch, subsidiary or affiliate.
L-1A has no yearly cap and no lottery, and there is no minimum investment amount. But the company must prove a real ongoing business in both countries and a genuine managerial or executive role.
L-1A can also lead to a green card. Many L-1A managers later qualify for EB-1C, which does not require PERM labor certification.
Who qualifies
- The U.S. and foreign companies must have a qualifying relationship: parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate, generally through common ownership and control.
- The company must be ‘doing business,’ meaning regular, ongoing trade in goods or services, in the U.S. and at least one other country during the L-1 stay.
- The worker must have worked for the related foreign company for at least one continuous year within the three years before the petition (or before entering the U.S. in another status).
- That foreign role must have been managerial, executive or specialized knowledge, and the U.S. role must be managerial or executive.
- A manager generally supervises other professionals or manages an essential function. An executive directs the organization or a major part of it with wide discretion.
- For a new office, the company must show it has secured physical premises and that the U.S. office will support a managerial or executive role within one year.
- L-1A status lasts up to a total of 7 years.
At a glance
What it is
- Temporary visa for qualifying related companies
- Requires one continuous year of employment abroad within the past three years
- Can lead to an EB-1C green card
Who it fits
- Multinational companies moving leaders to the U.S.
- Owners opening a new U.S. office
How we help
- Corporate-relationship documentation
- New-office plans and petitions
- Extensions and EB-1C planning
- Review corporate structure and ownership to confirm a qualifying relationship
- Prepare new office business plans and lease guidance
How the process works
Confirm eligibility and structure
Review ownership records, the worker’s year abroad and the planned U.S. role and staffing.
Set up the U.S. office (new office cases)
Form the U.S. entity, sign a lease for suitable space, fund it, and prepare a business plan.
Timing: Before filing
File the L-1 petition
The U.S. employer files with evidence of the relationship, the worker’s foreign role and the U.S. role.
Form: I-129 with L SupplementTiming: Premium processing available (15 business days)
Or use a blanket L
Companies with an approved blanket petition can send eligible managers directly to a U.S. consulate.
Form: I-129S; DS-160
Obtain the visa and enter
The worker applies for the L-1 visa at a consulate (Canadians may apply at the border).
Form: DS-160Timing: Initial stay up to 3 years (1 year for new office)
Extend or move to a green card
File extensions in up to 2-year steps. Consider an EB-1C petition once the U.S. business and role are established.
Form: I-129; I-140 (EB-1C)Timing: New office extension due before the first year ends
Documents to gather
- Articles, share certificates, operating agreements and ownership charts for both companies
- Organization charts for the foreign and U.S. offices showing the worker’s place and staff
- Detailed job duties abroad and in the U.S., with percent of time spent
- Payroll records and pay stubs showing one year of foreign employment
- Proof of doing business: invoices, contracts, bank statements, tax returns
- U.S. office lease and photos of the premises
- Business plan with hiring timeline and financial projections (new office)
- Worker’s resume, passport and degrees
Common problems to avoid
- Showing the manager does mostly day-to-day tasks instead of managing people or a function.
- Weak proof of common ownership and control between the companies.
- A new office with a small or virtual space that does not match the business plan.
- Failing to hire staff or grow as planned before the first-year extension.
- Letting the foreign company stop operating, which can end L-1 eligibility.
- Using a blanket L for a worker whose case really needs a full individual review.
What has changed lately
USCIS updated its Policy Manual so officers may deny a filing, including an L-1 petition, without first sending a Request for Evidence if required evidence is missing. This applies to cases pending or filed on or after August 5, 2026.
The premium processing fee for Form I-129, including L-1 petitions, rose to $2,965 on March 1, 2026.
Rules, fees and processing times change often. Ask us to confirm what applies to your case today.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an L-1A if I own the company?
Yes. Owners may qualify if the U.S. and foreign companies are related and you meet the one-year and managerial or executive requirements. USCIS will look closely at whether the business is real and ongoing.
What is a new office L-1A?
It is for a U.S. office that has been doing business for less than one year. The first approval is usually for one year. To extend, you must show the office is operating and can support a managerial or executive role.
What is a blanket L?
It is a pre-approval for large multinational companies. Once approved, eligible managers and specialized knowledge workers can apply directly at a consulate. The company generally must have had U.S. operations for a year and meet a size test, such as $25 million in U.S. sales or 1,000 U.S. employees.
Can my spouse work?
Spouses of L-1 workers in L-2 status are authorized to work incident to status, and their I-94 is marked to show this. Children under 21 may also come in L-2 status, but they cannot work.
How does L-1A lead to a green card?
Many L-1A managers qualify for EB-1C as multinational managers or executives. EB-1C does not require PERM. The U.S. company must have been doing business for at least one year.
- USCIS: L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part L (L Nonimmigrants)
- eCFR: 8 CFR 214.2(l)
- USCIS: Employment Authorization for Certain E and L Nonimmigrant Spouses
- USCIS: Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1
- USCIS Policy Alert: Evidentiary Standards (Aug. 5, 2026)
- Federal Register: Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees (Jan. 12, 2026)
- U.S. Department of State: Temporary Worker Visas
Information current as of September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.
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General information only, not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and no particular result is promised. Responsible attorney: JJ Zhang, Esq., Tez Law P.C., 4141 S. Nogales St., Suite C102, West Covina, CA 91792.