L-1 Visa




Intra Company Transfers

The biggest advantage of the L-1 Visa is that it has no quota limit, unlike the H-1B. This makes it the second most popular visa used by most professionals and employers. Generally L-1 is used by foreign companies whose employees are merely transferring to a US Branch of the parent company.

To qualify for L1, the employee must have been employed abroad for the corporation, firm, or other legal entity (or an affiliate or subsidiary thereof) on a full-time basis for at least one continuous year out of the last three-year period to qualify. The dependents of an L1 Visa holder can accompany them on an L2 Visa.

Apart from the no quota limit, L-1 Visa has few other advantages like:

  • It takes only 30-60 days for the visa to be granted.
  • It is given for three years, with two possible two-year extensions.
  • Intra-company transfers are permitted.
  • Spouse and children (up to the age of 21 years) can be taken along.
  • Spouse can get work authorization in both categories — Individual or Blanket L petitions.
  • In limited circumstances conversion to Permanent Residence is possible.
  • L visa holders do not have to maintain a foreign residence during their US stay and they may seek permanent residence and still maintain L status.

BizLegalServices undertakes L-1 Visa processing for Employers in India and the United States. For further information, please contact our firm.