U.S. L-1 Transfer
United States
Residency
Could you qualify?
Answer a few quick questions to see which global citizenship and residency pathways fit your background. It's free, and takes just a few minutes.
See if you're a match →The L-1 route is for employees being transferred to a U.S. office of the same company group. It generally requires a qualifying relationship between the foreign and U.S. companies, at least 1 year of qualifying employment abroad, and a manager, executive, or specialized-knowledge role.
- Type
- Company-transfer residence
- Transfer fit
- Employees transferring within an international company
- Core requirements
- Company transfer records and role details
- What to know
- Usually depends on the overseas employer relationship
- Duration
- L-1 is temporary; maximum stay is generally 5 years for L-1B or 7 years for L-1A.
- Renewal / path
- Extensions depend on the qualifying company relationship and role continuing.
Summary
The L-1 route is for employees transferring to a U.S. office within the same company group. It can also be used by a foreign company sending an eligible manager or executive to help open a new U.S. office.
The two main versions are L-1A for managers and executives, and L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge.
Eligibility
You may fit this pathway if:
- You work for a company group with a qualifying relationship between the foreign entity and the U.S. entity, such as parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate.
- You have worked for the company group outside the United States for at least 1 continuous year within the 3 years before the transfer or petition.
- You would transfer into a U.S. manager, executive, or specialized-knowledge role.
- The U.S. business is already operating, or the company can meet the extra rules for opening a new U.S. office.
What This Route Allows
L-1 status allows temporary work in the United States for the related U.S. employer. L-1A can sometimes align with a later multinational manager or executive green card strategy, but that requires a separate process.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a general U.S. job-offer visa. It depends on a real qualifying relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. company.
Next Steps
- Confirm the company relationship between the non-U.S. and U.S. entities.
- Document your qualifying employment outside the United States, including dates, payroll records, job duties, and the entity that employed you.
- Confirm whether the role is manager/executive or specialized knowledge.
- If this is a new U.S. office, gather the business plan, premises information, staffing plans, and company records.