Terms & Definitions

The L-1A Intra-Company Transferee Visa allows managers and executives of multinational companies to transfer to a U.S. office, affiliate, subsidiary, or branch of their employer. It is designed for those who have been employed abroad in a managerial or executive capacity for at least one continuous year within the past three years.

To qualify, the employer must:

• Have a qualifying relationship with a foreign company (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate).
• Be actively doing business in the U.S. and at least one other country during the employee’s stay in L-1A status.

The employee must:

• Have worked for a qualifying organization abroad for at least one continuous year within the past three years.
• Be transferring to the U.S. to work in an executive or managerial role.

For employees establishing a new U.S. office, the initial stay is limited to one year. For all other L-1A employees, the initial stay is up to three years, with extensions available in two-year increments, up to a maximum of seven years. The spouse and minor children of L-1A employees may obtain visas to accompany the visa holder; spouses are permitted to work in the U.S. incident to L-2S status.

For assistance with your L-1A petition or other immigration matters, contact our office.