L1 Visa

It all started when…

L1: The L1 visa is an intracompany transferee visa.  To utilize this visa, you need to have a company outside the US that is a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of your US company.  You also need to have been employed for the company outside the US as either an Executive, Manager, or Specialized Knowledge employee for one out of the last three years prior to filing the petition and you must be coming to the US company to work in an Executive, Managerial, or Specialized Knowledge position.

A “Specialized knowledge professional” refers to someone with a special knowledge of the company’s products, services, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests and its application in international markets, or an advanced level of knowledge or expertise regarding the organization’s processes and procedures.

An “Executive” is one who directs the management of the company or a major part or function of the organization; establishes the goals and policies of the organization, component, or function; exercises wide latitude in discretionary decision-making, and receives only general supervision or direction from higher level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the company. 

A “Manager” manages the organization, a department, or a function of the organization.  He/she also supervises and controls the work of other supervisory, professional, or managerial employees, or manages an essential function within the organization, or a department.  This person has authority to hire, fire and recommend other personnel actions if another employee or other employees are directly supervised.  If no other employee is directly supervised, then the “manager” is someone who functions at a senior level within the organizational hierarchy or with respect to the function managed.  This person is expected to have discretion over day-to-day operations of the activity or function for which he/she has authority. 

For new companies, you will typically get a one year visa initially.  For Managers or Executives, the total time that can be spent in this status is 7 years; for Specialized Knowledge employees the total time that can be spent in this status is 5 years.