Immigration Attorney Jessica Meng

The L nonimmigrant visa category is one of the most useful tools available to international companies needing to bring foreign employees to the U.S. Under section 101(a)(15)(L) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, an alien who within the preceding three years has been employed abroad for one continuous year by a qualifying organization may be admitted temporarily to the United States to be employed by a parent, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary of that employer in a managerial or executive capacity (L-1A), or in a position requiring specialized knowledge (L-1B). An alien transferred to the United States under this nonimmigrant classification is referred to as an intracompany transferee and the organization which seeks the classification of an alien as an intracompany transferee is referred to as the petitioner. The USCIS has responsibility for determining whether the alien is eligible for admission and whether the petitioner is a qualifying organization. These regulations set forth the standards applicable to these classifications. They also set forth procedures for admission of intracompany transferees and appeal of adverse decisions. Certain petitioners seeking the classification of aliens as intracompany transferees may file blanket petitions with the USCIS. Under the blanket petition process, the USCIS is responsible for determining whether the petitioner and its parent, branches, affiliates, or subsidiaries specified are qualifying organizations.

L-1A holder can apply permanent residency status directly under multi-national executive and manager category.