Intracompany Transferees: (L1 Visa, L1 Blanket Visa, L2 Visa)
An L1 Visa is available for managers, executives, or especially knowledgeable employees from an overseas company to work at an affiliated company located in the United States. There are no limits in the amount of L1 Visas available each year. The L1 visa is initially valid for three years and can be extended to a total stay of five years. There is no prevailing wage requirement for the L1 visa.
L1 Visa & Blanket Status For Large Companies
Large Companies may obtain L1 Blanket Status. L1 Blanket status allows large US companies that require frequent transferring of non-US employees to do so with one blanket L1 Petition. Individuals will still need a petition, but Blanket Status will still eliminate much of the paperwork. To find more out about L1 applications or L1 Blanket Applications, contact Gerald Cipolla & Associates for a consultation.
Qualifications For L1 Visa (Intracompany Transferees)
L1 Visas are available to the following:
Executives of an overseas company to oversee a branch, subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture partner within the United States
Managers or Professionals to manage or oversee a branch,subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture partner within the United States
Key Employees with Specialized Knowledge to provide its services at a branch, subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture partner within the United States
Employees and Partners of international accounting firms;
L1 Visa Requirements
To qualify for an L1 Visa, the following must be established:
The Applicant must have within three years preceding the time of application been employed abroad continuously for one year by a firm or corporation or other legal entity or parent, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary;
The Applicant seeks to enter the United States temporarily in order to render his or her services to a branch of the same employer or a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary thereof in a capacity that is managerial, executive , or involves specialized knowledge.
L2 Visas (Accompanying Relatives of L1 Visa Holders)
L2 Visas are available to the spouses and the unmarried children under the age of 21 of L1 Visa Holders. Spouses of L1 Visa Holders are permitted to work, however the minor children under the age of 21 are not.
The rules and restrictions surround L Visas are extremely complicated and require a skilled attorney to lay out a clear strategy in light of the law and your particular circumstances as well as properly and efficiently file the application. Contact the Law Offices of Ashley Dworsky for a consultation.