L-1A Visa
Intracompany transferee visa for executives and managers moving from a foreign office to a U.S. office of the same multinational organization.
About This Visa
The L-1A is a nonimmigrant visa for managers and executives being transferred from a qualifying foreign office to a U.S. office of the same multinational organization. There is no annual cap and no lottery.
The transferee must have worked for the qualifying foreign entity in a managerial, executive, or specialized-knowledge capacity for at least one continuous year within the three years preceding the U.S. petition. The U.S. and foreign entities must have a qualifying relationship—parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.
L-1A status is granted for up to 7 years total. New-office petitions are limited to an initial 1-year period; established offices receive up to 3 years on initial approval, with 2-year extensions. The L-1A is a dual-intent visa and is the most common stepping stone to the EB-1C multinational manager green card.
Maximum L-1A stay—and the most direct stepping stone to the EB-1C multinational manager green card, which bypasses the PERM labor certification process.
Who Qualifies for an L-1A?
Both the employee and the employer must meet specific requirements. The L-1A is one of the more document-intensive nonimmigrant petitions, particularly for the qualifying relationship and the executive or managerial nature of the U.S. role.
One continuous year of employment with the qualifying foreign entity in the three years before the U.S. petition, in a managerial, executive, or specialized-knowledge role
Qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities (parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate)
U.S. role must be primarily managerial or executive in nature, not first-line supervision of non-professional staff
Both U.S. and foreign entities must be doing business as employers throughout the L-1A period
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Schedule a ConsultationThe L-1A Process
Qualifying Relationship Documentation
We document the relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities—corporate charters, ownership records, organizational charts, and tax filings. This is the most common audit point for L-1 petitions.
Managerial / Executive Capacity
We build the record showing the U.S. role is primarily managerial or executive—decision authority, reporting structure, subordinate professional staff, and discretion over personnel or operations. Function-manager cases (no direct reports) require additional care.
File Form I-129
The U.S. employer files Form I-129 with USCIS, including supporting evidence and the L Supplement. Premium processing is available for $2,965 with a 15-business-day response. Large multinationals with approved blanket L petitions follow a streamlined consular process.
Visa & Entry or Change of Status
After approval, the executive applies for the L-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate (or, if already in the U.S. in valid status, the I-129 can request change of status). L-2 dependents follow with their own applications.
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Loren Locke
Managing Attorney
Former U.S. consular officer in Matamoros, Mexico — adjudicated some 12,000 visa applications before founding Locke Immigration Law.
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Adjudicated 12,000+ visas at the U.S. Consulate, Mexico · Former U.S. Foreign Service Officer · J.D. William & Mary Law School
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