US Work Visa - US L1 Visa :

USA L1 VISA :

The USA L1 visa is a visa document that is needed to enter the US for work purposes. It is a good option for those people who want to stay and work in the US. Foreign businesses can transfer their employees to the US branch of the business through the L1 visa. Some of the other details about the L1 visa are given below.

1. What Is an L1 Visa?

The L1 visa is a non-immigrant visa through which foreign companies can transfer employees to the US. It can be provided to different position holders in the company, such as a manager, executive, or any other person with specialized knowledge. The company that the person is transferred to in the US must be a subsidiary, an affiliate, a branch office, or a parent branch of the foreign company. Once transferred, the employee gets immigration benefits for the family, as well.
There are two types of L1 visa, discussed later in this article.

2. Who Can Obtain an L1 Visa?

The workers of affiliate businesses of the US companies overseas can obtain the L1 visa. There are two types of L1 visa, depending upon the position and the job of the employee, these are:

1. L1A Visa

2. L1B Visa

The type of L1 visa that the employees get depends upon the work that they do. If the transferred employee is a manager or an executive in the company, he will obtain the L1A visa . On the other hand, if the transferred employee is one of the specialized knowledge staff, he would get an L1B visa.

3. What Is The Difference Between L1 and E2 Visas?

The main difference between the two is that with an L1 visa, employees of multinational companies are transferred to the US, but with the E2 visa, investors, businessmen, and entrepreneurs can go to the US. If you have an E2 visa, you can start a new business in the US or invest in any of the existing companies there.

Secondly, one of the significant differences is the focus of the job. With an L1 visa, the employee must work in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge job position. But with the E2 visa, the main focus is that you have to make a substantial investment in any business in the US. Moreover, the eligibility criteria are also different. You can get an E2 visa only if you are from an E2 treaty country . On the other hand, people from any country can apply for an L1 visa.

4. How Long Is The L1 Visa Processing Time?

Depending upon factors such as the embassy and the circumstances of the application, the processing time can take somewhere around six to twelve months. The processing time for both types of L1 visa is generally the same. Form I-129 requires about six months to be processed by a USCIS service centre.

5. What Are The Requirements and Fees For L1 Visa?

There are four main requirements for an L1 visa.

i. The foreign company and the US company must have a qualifying relationship with each other. (Either parent/subsidiary, branch office, or affiliate).

ii. The foreign company must have given continuous employment to the worker for at least one year during the last three years before filing the L1 petition.

iii. The employee must have worked in a foreign company in managerial, executive, or a specialized knowledge job post.

iv. The employee must work in the US in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge work position.

6. How Long Is The L1 Visa Valid For?

For managerial and executive positions, the L1 visa is valid for seven years. However, for L1B visa holders, the duration time allowed per admission is five years. The L-1 stamp, however, must be valid at the time of admission into the US. Moreover, after completing the allowed time period in both categories of the L1 visa, the employee has to be employed out of the US for at least one year in order to make another application for a new L1 visa.

7. Does L1 Visa Lead To A Green Card?

The L1 visa allows the holder to have dual intent. Dual intent means that the foreign nationals initially coming with an L1 visa are permitted to have the intent to live in the US permanently while residing in the US on a non-immigrant visa. Because L1 visa holders are managers, executive or specialized knowledge staff, they are eligible for some categories of green card. First, however, you need to apply and get approved for immigrant visa type. After getting approved, you can get an EB1C visa and reside permanently in the US.

We understand that it may be difficult for varying applicants to decide what information and/or documents of theirs can best present their circumstances as advised above and therefore the qualified, experienced and dedicated lawyers of M.I.S-Legal are well available for guidance and assistance in this regard. We welcome applicants to reach us on our UAN 0304 111 0786 with their questions or cases to seek help with their visa applications.