L-1A Managerial Work Visa

Expanding your US business horizons

L-1A visa facilitates the transfer of executives or managers from a foreign company to a related US office for managerial work

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Business Advantages of Establishing a US Presence with an L-1A Visa

  • Direct oversight ensures better control over business operations
  • Face-to-face interactions with clients and prospects build stronger relationships
  • Quick decision-making enables timely responses to market demands and opportunities
  • Efficient hiring and staff management ensure an effective workforce
  • Participation in events enhances brand visibility and networking opportunities
  • Enhanced coordination among global teams

L1A Visa Landscape

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Work for your own company in the US and take control of your business goals

Introduction

Introduction

  • Temporary Non-Immigrant Visa – Dual Intent
  • Allows a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This is L-1A Existing Office visa.
  • Allows a foreign company that does not yet have a U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one. This is L-1A New Office visa.
  • Eligibility for Green Card - EB1C Multinational Manager or Executive

Benefits

Benefits

  • Expand the foreign business in the U.S.
  • No minimum investment required
  • Live and work in the US
  • Ability to travel
  • The US company can be a different line of business than the parent foreign company
  • Educational Requirement – You do not need a degree to qualify!
  • Period of Stay – Initial 3 years and maximum 7 years.
  • No annual limits – No annual cap (unlike H-1B)
  • Work Authorization to dependents
  • New offices - An Executive/Manager can be sent to the US to establish a new office under the pre-certified green card category

General Qualifications

General Qualifications

  • US company registration with a qualifying (parent, subsidiary, or affiliate) link to the Indian firm
  • L-1A petitioner employee’s minimum one-year managerial tenure in the foreign company
  • Detailed business plan
  • Doing viable business in India and potential to do viable business in the US
  • Lease or purchase of office space

L-1A New Office Visa

L-1A New Office Visa

  • 1 year to “start-up” the business in the US – Extension is filed before 1 year expiration.
  • The company must have obtained adequate physical space
  • The employer must demonstrate that it will be able to support a managerial or executive position after 1 year (for an L-1A visa)
  • When filing an extension, it must be shown that both the US and foreign entity are still “qualifying organizations” and both are still “doing business”
  • The US company can support an executive/manager who is relieved from the day-to-day operations

Processing Steps for your L-1A Petition filing

STEP 01

Fact Gathering & Compilation of data - from employer and L-1A beneficiary

STEP 02

Evaluation of documents and case preparation

STEP 03

L-1A Petition Filing with
USICS

Getting you started

EntryUSA Coverage

Stage 1 - L-1A New / L-1A Existing
L-1A L-1A Renewal
L-1A Renewal L-1A Existing L-1A New (Before the end of 1st year) L-1A Existing (Before the end of 3rd years)
USCIS I-129 Filing
USCIS L-Supplement N/A N/A
Premium Processing (Optional)
Legal Services
Business Plan N/A N/A
Stage 2 - Consular Process
DS 160 Form Preparation for Consular Processing after L-1A is approved
DS 160 Form Preparation for Consular Processing for each Dependent
Stage 3 - I-140 Process
USCIS Form I-140 Filing
Premium Processing (Optional)
Legal Services
Stage 4 - Adjustment of Status after the I-140 is approved
USCIS Filing Forms: I-1485, I-765, I-131 and Form I-485A
USCIS Filing Forms: I-1485, I-765, I-131 for each dependent
Legal Services for each AOS Petition (Adjustment of Status)
Disclaimer - All USCIS fees is subject to change
L-1A visa

FAQs

  • What is an L-1A visa and how different is it from an L-1A New Office visa?

    The L-1A visa facilitates the transfer of managerial or executive employees from multinational corporations' foreign offices, like in India, to related established branches in the United States. The L-1A New Office visa, conversely, is designated for employees transferred to set up a new office in the US.

  • What is the "blanket L-1A program"?

    The program streamlines the L-1A visa process for certain employees of large multinational companies in such a way that avoids the necessity for separate petitions for each employee.

  • How long does it take to process an L-1A visa?

    Premium processing of an L-1A visa guarantees a faster decision within 15 calendar days. On the other hand, the regular processing option follows the standard timeline of a few months.

  • What educational qualifications are needed for an L-1A visa?

    There is no specific or minimum educational qualification required for an L-1A visa.
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