Business Immigration Services
Send us a message for inquiries
L-1A and L-1B
Guerrero Banad has extensive experience preparing L-1 petitions for companies of all sizes and structures, including complex new office cases where the U.S. entity has not yet begun active operations.
Who Qualifies for the L-1 Visa?
The L-1 is available to employees of a qualifying multinational company who have worked outside the United States for the company, its parent, a subsidiary, or an affiliate for at least one continuous year within the preceding three years. The employee must be coming to the U.S. to work in an executive, managerial, or specialised knowledge capacity.
L-1A — Executives and Managers
L-1A status is for executives who direct the organisation or a major function or department with wide latitude for decision-making, and managers who supervise and control the work of other professional employees, manage an essential function, or manage a department or subdivision of the organisation. L-1A holders may be eligible for expedited access to the EB-1C green card after one year in L-1A status.
L-1B — Specialised Knowledge
L-1B status is for employees who possess specialised knowledge — special knowledge of the company’s product, service, research, equipment, techniques, management, or procedures, and of its application in international markets, or an advanced level of knowledge of the company’s processes and procedures. USCIS has applied heightened scrutiny to L-1B petitions in recent years, making strong evidentiary documentation critical.
New Office L-1 Petitions
A particularly demanding form of L-1 petition is the new office filing, used when a company is establishing a new U.S. affiliate, subsidiary, or branch and wishes to transfer an executive or manager to set it up. New office petitions are approved initially for one year only, after which the company must demonstrate that the U.S. business is actually operational and that the employee continues to work in a qualifying role. Our attorneys guide companies through both the initial petition and the follow-up extension, including preparation of the business plan that USCIS reviews closely in new office cases.
Blanket L Petitions
Large multinational companies with a significant and ongoing need to transfer employees to the United States may be eligible for a blanket L petition, which streamlines the individual transfer process by pre-certifying the qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities. Once blanket approval is granted, individual employees can obtain L visas through the consulate without a separate USCIS petition for each person.
L-1 to Green Card
Executives and managers who have held L-1A status may file an EB-1C immigrant visa petition after at least one year of employment with the U.S. entity in a qualifying executive or managerial role. Because EB-1C does not require PERM labor certification, it can be a faster path to a green card than other employment-based categories. Our attorneys assist clients in planning the L-1A to EB-1C transition and timing the filings for maximum efficiency.
