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

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.

  • Can my family accompany me on an L-1A visa?

    Certainly. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of L-1A visa holders qualify for dependent visas (L2 visas) and can join the primary visa holder in the US.

  • What are the additional benefits of getting an L-1A visa?

    The US company can be a different line of business than the parent foreign company; You do not need a degree to qualify; dependents are allowed to work; and L-1A visa holders and their dependents can apply for a green card.

  • Must the US company be in the same line of business as the Indian Company?

    No, it's not mandatory for the US company to operate in the same industry as the Indian company.

  • What is the validity of an L-1A visa?

    The initial validity of an L-1A visa varies - up to 3 years for established U.S. offices and 1 year for L-1A New offices. L-1A visa holders can apply for extensions, with a maximum total stay of 7 years.

  • What are the salary criteria for the L-1A visa holder in the US?

    While the US government doesn't set specific salary criteria, salaries need to be reasonable, considering factors such as location, experience, industry, and company size.

  • Is there a quota or cap for L-1A visas?

    Unlike some other visa categories, such as H-1B visas, there is no annual cap or quota for L-1A visas.

  • Is a business plan necessary when applying for an L-1A visa?

    Providing a business plan with your standard L-1A visa application is optional, but doing so will substantially strengthen your application.. However, for the L-1A New Office visa, submitting a business plan is required to demonstrate the viability and feasibility of the proposed new office in the U.S.

  • What is the minimum investment/capitalization required for getting an L-1A visa?

    There is no minimum investment or capitalization required for an L-1A visa.

  • How the Indian entity will prove that it has the financial resources to support the L-1A visa holder’s salary and the operations of the US office?

    Your Indian company can show its financial resources by submitting financial statements, cash reserves, investment capital, and revenue projections.