L-1A is the intracompany transfer visa for managers and executives, and a strong expansion tool for business owners. If you don't have a foreign company, compare our E-2 and EB-2 NIW for entrepreneurs guides.
Key takeaways
- You need 1 continuous year abroad with the company in the last 3 years.
- New-office L-1A starts with a 1-year approval.
- No lottery, dual intent, and your spouse can work.
- Leads to a green card through EB-1C, without PERM.
What is a qualifying relationship?
The foreign and U.S. companies must be related as parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate, generally through common ownership and control.
Parent / subsidiary
One company owns and controls the other, directly or indirectly.
Branch
An operating division or office of the same organization.
Affiliate
Both companies are owned and controlled by the same parent or individual.
How does a new-office L-1A work?
A new-office L-1A is approved for one year at first. You must show secured premises and a realistic plan for the office to support a managerial or executive role within that year.
- Lease or purchase of U.S. premises
- Proof of investment in the U.S. entity
- Business plan with hiring and revenue targets
- Organizational chart showing your managerial role
- Evidence the foreign company is operating
- Plan to support the role within one year
Example for Pakistani business owners: a Karachi-based IT services company opens a U.S. subsidiary. The owner, who has run the company for years, transfers on a new-office L-1A, hires U.S. staff during the first year, extends the L-1A, then files for an EB-1C green card. Illustrative only.
We'll review your company structure and map the path from L-1A to an EB-1C green card.
How does L-1A lead to a green card?
Through EB-1C, the multinational manager or executive green card. It requires no PERM labor certification and is filed by the U.S. employer.
| Factor | L-1A | EB-1C |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Temporary visa | Green card |
| Filed by | U.S. company (I-129) | U.S. company (I-140) |
| Labor certification | Not required | Not required |
| Key requirement | 1 year abroad in last 3 | Managerial role abroad and in the U.S. |
[Include partner-attorney sentence here if applicable.]
Official sources
- USCIS: L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager
- USCIS: Employment-Based Immigration, First Preference (EB-1)
- USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055)
Phoenix Immigration Consulting Services LLC is an immigration consulting firm, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page is general and may change; always confirm current rules on uscis.gov and travel.state.gov. Filing a petition or application does not guarantee approval.
