L-1 Blanket
Home / L-1 Blanket
At ZubaidaLaw, we help multinational companies obtain L-1 Blanket Approval – a USCIS designation that allows you to transfer executives, managers, and specialized knowledge professionals from foreign offices to the U.S. without filing individual Form I-129 petitions for each employee. Instead, qualified employees apply directly at a U.S. consulate using the blanket approval notice, reducing processing time from months to days or weeks and eliminating per-employee USCIS filing fees.
Qualifying for L-1 Blanket Status
Your company must meet all of the following criteria: (1) Three or more U.S. branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates; (2) Combined annual sales of $25 million or more OR a U.S. workforce of at least 1,000 employees; (3) At least 10 L-1 petitions approved in the last 12 months (or a reasonable explanation of projected need); and (4) The U.S. entity has been doing business for at least one year.
The Blanket L-1 Process
Once blanket approval is granted, employees follow a simplified two-path process. Path 1 – Transfer: If an employee already holds L-1 status with the same multinational group, they simply present the blanket notice and qualifying documents at the consulate. Path 2 – New L-1: Employees without prior L-1 status apply directly at the consulate using Form DS-160, the blanket approval notice, and evidence of one year of foreign employment in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge role. No USCIS filing is required for the employee.
What We Handle at ZubaidaLaw
Our legal advocates file the initial Blanket L-1 Petition (Form I-129) with USCIS, compile corporate structure evidence (stock ownership, board minutes, articles), document financial or employee thresholds, and prepare consular application templates. After approval, we advise on each employee’s visa application – saving your company time, filing fees, and USCIS delays. Dependents (spouse and unmarried children under 21) receive L-2 status with work authorization for spouses.
Call us at 865-382-2900 to determine if your company qualifies for L-1 blanket approval.
A USCIS blanket approval that allows a multinational company to transfer multiple L-1 employees (executives, managers, and specialized knowledge professionals) without filing individual I-129 petitions for each one.
Regular L-1 requires a separate Form I-129 and USCIS fee for every employee. Blanket L-1 allows employees to apply directly at a consulate – faster, cheaper, and with no USCIS adjudication per person.
Indefinitely, as long as the company continues to meet the qualifying criteria. USCIS may revoke it if the company no longer qualifies.
No. Each employee must still meet L-1A (executive/manager) or L-1B (specialized knowledge) requirements, including at least one continuous year of foreign employment with the multinational group within the last three years.
Your company must have: (1) three or more U.S. entities, (2) $25M+ annual sales OR 1,000+ U.S. employees, (3) 10+ L-1 approvals in the last 12 months (or projected need), and (4) U.S. entity operating for at least one year.
No. Blanket approval requires the U.S. entity to have been doing business for at least one year. New offices must use the standard L-1 petition process.
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 receive L-2 dependent status. Spouses can apply for work authorization using Form I-765.
Typically 5–15 business days, compared to 2–6 months for standard L-1 with USCIS. Premium processing is not needed because there is no USCIS step.
Yes. L-1 is a dual-intent visa. L-1A blanket employees may qualify for EB-1C (green card for executives/managers). L-1B blanket employees may pursue EB-2 or EB-3 with PERM.
Yes. We provide full notarization services for corporate resolutions, employment affidavits, qualifying relationship evidence, and all supporting documents for blanket petitions and individual employee applications.
