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L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa Attorney | Harari Law

By Talia Harari, Attorney at Law. Updated September 2026.

The L-1 visa lets a multinational company transfer a manager, executive or specialized-knowledge employee from an office abroad to a related U.S. office. It can also send someone to open a first U.S. office. The L-1A covers managers and executives; the L-1B covers specialized knowledge.

Key Takeaways

  • You need one continuous year with the related company abroad within the last three years.
  • The U.S. and foreign companies must be a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate.
  • L-1A stays can reach seven years in total, L-1B stays five.

Who Qualifies

The USCIS L-1A page sets out the rules. In plain terms:

  • The U.S. employer has a qualifying relationship with the company abroad and does business in both countries.
  • You worked for that company abroad for one continuous year in the three years before filing.
  • You will work as a manager or executive (L-1A) or use specialized knowledge of the company (L-1B).
  • For a new U.S. office, the company has secured physical premises, and the first approval runs one year.

How We Handle It

  1. Consultation. We learn your company and the role.
  2. Strategy session with our legal team. We confirm the corporate relationship and category.
  3. Evidence and preparation. We assemble org charts, payroll and role evidence.
  4. Review and filing. You review the petition with us, then we file.

Treaty-country owners may also qualify for the E-2 or E-1. Employers hiring outside the company often look at the H-1B.

Ready to talk through your L-1 transfer?

Request a Consultation

Flat fee, quoted in full before we begin. Admitted in New York, representing clients nationwide and abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the L-1 to open a new U.S. office?

Yes. The company needs secured premises, and an L-1A office must support the role within a year.

Does the L-1 lead to a green card?

The L-1A lines up with the EB-1C category for multinational managers. L-1B holders need another path.

Can my spouse work in the U.S.?

Yes. L-2 spouses can work based on their status.

Related: all the visas we handle, E-2 visa, E-2 vs L-1.

This article is general information from Harari Law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law and agency policy change; outcomes depend on individual facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.