The L1 visa, also known as the “Intracompany Transferees” visa, is one that allows you to easily transfer international companies, individuals or employees in management positions with specialized knowledge to the U.S.
An L1 visa can also help foreign companies to establish new offices in the U.S. Employees can be transferred to the U.S. through the visa to work within the company that has employed them or within a related company.
To apply for this type of visa the employee must have worked for at least one year in the company. There are two types: the L1-A that grants residence permit from 1 to 3 years with an extension of 2 years to a maximum of seven years, and the L1-B which is very similar to the L1-A but grants residence permit for up to 5 years.
The L-1 and E1 / E2 are nonimmigrant visas that last one to five years and, therefore, do not grant the same benefits as the residency.
5 Key points on the L1 visa
- It allows you to live with your family.The holder has the opportunity to live with his/her immediate family, i.e. spouse, and children under 21 and unmarried.
- It allows you to work.The L1 visa gives its holder the possibility to legally work in the United States. It also gives the spouse of the holder the possibility to apply for a work visa.
- It allows you to study.
The L1 visa allows the holder’s children to attend public or private school without a student visa. With this visa, your children can improve their English in American schools and have academic opportunities that they may not have in their home countries.
- It provides easy access to the country.The L1 visa facilitates the entry to the U.S. You can ask for a maximum of 3 to 5 years. That means that you are given permission to enter the United States on multiple occasions during this time period.
- It facilitates obtaining the residency.The most important benefit of the L1 visa is that it facilitates the process to apply for the permanent residence, unlike other types of visa.