L-1A Visa
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At ZubaidaLaw, we help multinational companies transfer executives and managers from their foreign offices to the United States through the L-1A Visa. This non-immigrant visa allows companies to move key leadership talent to the U.S. for up to 7 years (initial 3 years, renewable for 2 additional years). Unlike the H-1B, the L-1A has no annual cap, no lottery, and no minimum degree requirement. To qualify, the foreign national must have worked for a qualifying organization abroad (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of the U.S. company) for at least one continuous year within the last three years in a managerial or executive capacity. The L-1A is also a dual-intent visa, meaning you can pursue a green card while on L-1A status.
Key Requirements
You must establish the following: (1) The U.S. and foreign entities have a qualifying relationship (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate); (2) You have been employed by the foreign entity for at least one continuous year in the last three years in a managerial or executive capacity; (3) You are coming to the U.S. to work in a managerial or executive capacity for the U.S. entity; and (4) The U.S. entity is doing business (or will be doing business) as a legitimate operating entity. For new office L-1A petitions (where the U.S. entity has been operating for less than one year), additional evidence of physical premises, business plan, and financial ability to pay the executive’s salary is required.
What is Managerial or Executive Capacity?
Managerial capacity: Supervising and controlling professional staff, managing a department or function, having authority to hire/fire, or managing an essential function of the organization.
Executive capacity: Directing the management of the organization or a major component, establishing goals and policies, exercising wide latitude in decision-making, and receiving only general supervision from higher-level executives or the board.
Key Forms & Process
The U.S. employer files Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS, along with supporting evidence of the qualifying relationship, your prior employment abroad, and your managerial/executive role. No Labor Condition Application (LCA) is required. Premium processing ($2,805) guarantees a 15-day decision. Once the I-129 is approved, you apply for the L-1A visa at a U.S. consulate using Form DS-160 (or use the Border Crossing Card for Canadians under TN status). Dependents (spouse and unmarried children under 21) receive L-2 status – spouses are eligible for work authorization (Form I-765).
What We Handle at ZubaidaLaw
Our legal advocates manage the entire L-1A process: establishing the qualifying relationship through corporate documents (articles, stock certificates, annual reports), documenting your one-year foreign employment (pay stubs, tax records, employment letters, organizational charts), drafting detailed job descriptions proving managerial or executive capacity, filing Form I-129 with premium processing when needed, notarizing affidavits from foreign and U.S. supervisors, and preparing you for the consular interview. For new office cases, we help draft comprehensive business plans, lease agreements, and financial projections. We also handle L-1A blanket petitions for frequent intra-company transfers.
Call us at 865-382-2900 to determine if your company qualifies for L-1A and to begin the transfer process.
It's a non-immigrant visa that allows multinational companies to transfer executives or managers from a foreign office to a U.S. office (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate).
| Feature | L-1A | L-1B |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Executive or manager | Specialized knowledge professional |
| Maximum stay | 7 years | 5 years |
| Green card path | EB-1C (faster) | EB-2/EB-3 (slower) |
| New office allowed | Yes | No |
At least one continuous year within the three years immediately preceding the filing of the L-1A petition. The employment must have been in a managerial or executive capacity.
Initial period: Up to 3 years
Extension: Up to 2 additional years
Maximum total: 7 years
For new offices: Initial 1 year, then extendable to 3 years, then 2 more years (total 7 years).
No. Unlike H-1B, there is no annual lottery or numerical cap. You can file at any time of the year.
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 receive L-2 dependent status. Spouses can apply for work authorization using Form I-765 (L-2 EAD). Children may study but cannot work.
Existing office: U.S. entity has been operating for at least one year. Evidence of ongoing business required.
New office: U.S. entity has been operating for less than one year. Requires physical premises, business plan, financial ability to pay salary, and a detailed explanation of hiring timelines.
Yes. L-1A is a dual-intent visa. Executives and managers are eligible for EB-1C (multinational executive or manager green card), which has no backlog for most countries. We can file I-140 concurrently with your L-1A.
A blanket L-1 petition allows a multinational company to pre-qualify with USCIS to transfer multiple employees without filing individual I-129 petitions each time. Ideal for companies with frequent intra-company transfers.
Yes. We provide full notarization services for sworn affidavits from foreign supervisors, corporate officers, and HR managers confirming your managerial/executive role and employment dates. We also certify translations of foreign corporate documents.
