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What is L1 visa ?

L-1 visa is an intra company transfer visa for qualified executives/managers to enable them to live and work for the company in the U.S. It is a non-immigrant, employer-sponsored visa for companies with offices in the U.S. or companies who want to expand their business to the U.S.

There are two types of L-1 visa: L-1A and L-1B, as explained below:

L1A visa facilitates transfer of employees who are at an executive or managerial position(could be owners as well) of the company. These employees are sent to U.S. for work or to establish a new branch of the company in the U.S. For a new U.S. office entry, L-1A visa is initially issued for 1 year and for existing companies, it is issued for 3 years. The same can be extended for 7 years, cumulatively.

L1B visa is for employees with specialised knowledge about the products or services of the company. They are sent to U.S. through this visa channel when their specialised skills are required for expansion and operation of the company. For a new U.S. office entry, L-1B visa is initially issued for 1 year and for existing companies, it is issued for 3 years. The same can be extended for 5 years, cumulatively.

L1 visa duration

For a new U.S. office entry, L-1B visa is initially issued for 1 year and for existing companies, it is issued for 3 years. The same can be extended for 5 years, cumulatively.

L1 visa requirements

These are the following requirements under this visa:

  • For a new office to be setup, the applicant has to come up with a viable business plan which will facilitate economic growth in U.S. The applicant must also have an appropriate organizational structure and fixed physical premises for carrying out business operations.
  • During the previous 3 years, the applicant should be working with the company for at least one continuous year.
  • The qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign employer should be of any of the following kinds:
    • Parent and subsidiary,
    • Branch and headquarters,
    • Sister companies owned by a mutual parent,
    • Or, ‘affiliates’ owned by the same or people in approximately the same percentages.

What is EB1C Green Card?

Executives and managers of companies who are transferred to U.S. to continue company’s operations in the U.S. may qualify for this green card category. The requirements to qualify for this visa are similar to that of L-1 visa. While being in U.S. the L-1 visa holders can convert their status from temporary residence to permanent residence by making an application under the EB-1C
category.

EB 1C GREEN CARD
REQUIRMENTS

For applying for EB1-C, the company must already exist in the U.S for at least one year and have sufficient cash flows

FAMILY COVERAGE

The spouse and children under the age of 21, of the main visa applicant also become eligible for the temporary visa under L-1 and obtaining U.S. Green Card under EB-1C visa.

Benefits of L-1 visa and EB-1C Green Card

The visa holder is allowed to live and work in U.S. is also allowed to travel within and outside U.S.

Dependents of the main applicant, (spouse and children under 21 years) are also allowed to live and work in the U.S. without any restriction.

L-1 visa is a dual intent visa, which means, L-1 visa holders can eventually apply for Green Card and obtain permanent residency.

Unlike the H-1B work visa, there is no quota on the number of visas that can be issued under the L-1 category.

There is no minimum amount of investment required under EB-1C Green Card option, dissimilar to the EB-5 visa where the applicant has to furnish at least $500,000 in the form of an investment.

Through this visa, companies can establish a new office in USA in case they don’t have existing permanent form of presence.

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