L-Visas for Temporary Workers

Rachel Krewson has decades of experience helping individuals navigate the U.S. immigration process. Are you considering an L-Visa? Rachel Krewson is your go-to expert in understanding the complexity of U.S. immigration laws and regulations surrounding L-Visas. With her deep understanding and experience, she is well-versed in helping clients present their best case for an L-Visa application. So don’t leave anything to chance; contact Rachel Krewson today to get the help you need!

L-1A and L-1B Visas for Temporary Workers

An L-1A visa is a specific form of a temporary work visa that allows multinational companies to transfer executives or managers from their foreign branch offices to the United States. In addition, it facilitates the transfer of employees from outside the United States to their American branch offices or subsidiaries.a

An L-1B visa is another type of temporary work visa designed to facilitate the transfer of employees with specialized knowledge from their foreign branch offices to their American counterparts.

L-1A and L-1B Visa Requirements

The USCIS grants L-1A and L-1B visas to highly qualified employees when their employer submits a petition requesting authorization for them to work and reside in the United States.

The L-1A visa is the ideal option for any international corporate executive or manager who wishes to work with a U.S.-based company while still employed by their overseas employer.
The L-1B visa was designed to facilitate the transfer of specialized knowledge within an organization, allowing employees to work in roles that require a unique set of skills.

L-1A Classification

The L-1A nonimmigrant classification allows a U.S. employer to move an executive or manager from one of its international branches to the United States, as well as allows foreign companies without U.S.-based offices to send executives and managers for setting up operations in the United States – all with Form I-129: Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker.

Basic Qualifications for an L-1A Visa Applicant

Within the three years preceding your entry into the United States, you must have been employed by a qualifying organization abroad for one full year; and
Aspire to enter the United States to serve in an executive or managerial position in a branch of your employer or its partner organizations.

Executive positions mean you execute various decisions independently and without much guidance.

Managerial capacity is referring to the skillset that allows you to supervise and monitor professional employees’ work processes and the organization or a department. Also included is an aptitude for managing essential functions of the organization independently without any direct oversight from others.

Basic Qualifications for an L-1B Visa Applicant

The L-1B classification is an ideal solution for U.S. employers to transfer specialized knowledge workers from a foreign affiliate office to one of their offices in the United States. Or to help them establish such an office if they do not already have one. To use this special privilege, your employer must file Form I-129 with the corresponding fee on your behalf.

The employer also must meet general qualifications.

Basic Qualifications for an L-1B Visa Applicant

You must have been continuously employed by a qualifying organization abroad for one year within the three years before you enter into the United States.
Suppose you want to enter the U.S. and provide specialized services of knowledge capacity to a branch of your employer or one of its qualifying organizations. In that case, this is the right opportunity for you.

Having ‘specialized knowledge’ means knowledge about the organization’s products, services, equipment, research, techniques, management, or other aspects of the company’s international markets at an advanced level and expertise in the organization’s processes and procedures.

The employer also must meet general requirements.

How to File an L-Visa

The employer must:

Go over the application instructions for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker;
Complete and sign Form I-129;
Pay the required filing fee, if needed; and
Provide the required evidence and supporting documents, including an additional copy of Form I-129 and all of the supporting documentation, even if the employer is filing Form I-129 to seek change of status or extension of stay on the employee’s behalf.

If you are an international manager or executive, the L-1A visa is a great way to work in the United States. However, if you have specialized knowledge and want to work for a U.S. company, the L-1B visa is perfect for you. Please contact Rachel Krewson today to learn more about these visas and how to apply. She has decades of experience helping people get their visas approved and would be happy to help you too!