Can my company transfer me from our foreign office to the U.S.?
Yes, potentially. The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer certain executives, managers and employees with specialized knowledge from a foreign office to a related U.S. entity. Unlike the H-1B, the L-1 is not subject to an annual cap lottery.
To qualify, there must be a qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign and U.S. entities, and you generally must have worked for the qualifying organization abroad for at least one continuous year within the preceding three years. Your role in the United States must also qualify as managerial, executive or specialized knowledge. Because of these requirements, both the company structure and your role are important to L-1 eligibility.
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Related questions
L-1A is for executives and managers, while L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company’s products, services, processes or operations. Job title alone does not determine the category — USCIS looks at your actual duties, level of authority, reporting structure and, for L-1B, the nature and depth of your specialized knowledge. The distinction also affects the evidence required and may affect future green card options, so choosing the right category is important before filing.
Yes. EB-1C provides a green card path for qualifying multinational executives and managers and is often considered for employees working in the U.S. in L-1A status.
It is a separate immigrant petition with its own requirements, including:
- Qualifying employment abroad
- A qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign companies
- A managerial or executive role in the United States
L-1A status can be a natural starting point, but it does not automatically qualify someone for EB-1C.