L-1B Visa

The L-1B visa is an important option for multinational companies to relocate specialized employees from their overseas branches to the United States. This visa allows these employees to work temporarily in the U.S., bringing their specific expertise to U.S. operations. Our team is ready to provide you with comprehensive support and guidance throughout the entire process of obtaining your L-1B visa.

What is the L-1B Visa?

The L-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa category that allows multinational companies to transfer employees with specialized knowledge to the United States. This visa category facilitates intra-company transfers, enabling companies to benefit from the unique skills and expertise of their international personnel.

Who Qualifies for the L-1B Visa?

To qualify for the L-1B visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:

a. Specialized Knowledge

The applicant must possess specialized knowledge about the company’s product, service, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests and its application in international markets.

b. Employment Relationship

The applicant must have been employed by a qualifying foreign company for at least one continuous year within the past three years.

c. Company Relationship

There must be a qualifying relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity, such as parent company, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch.

How Does the Application Process Work?

Step 1: Determination of Eligibility

First, we confirm eligibility, ensuring that you meet the criteria for an L-1B visa, including having specialized knowledge and being employed by a qualifying multinational company for at least one continuous year in the last three years.

Step 2: Collection of the Documents

We collect the required documents, such as proof of employment, evidence of specialized knowledge, company information for the qualifying U.S. and foreign companies, and personal documents for the applicant.

Step 3: Preparation of the Application Package and Filing of the Petition

We compile the application package including a cover letter explaining your eligibility for the L-1B, supporting evidence of the qualifying relationship and specialized knowledge, business plan for the U.S. Company, personal documents, form I-129 and other forms, proof of payment of application fees and submitting the application package to the USCIS.

• Change of Status Application: If you are already in the U.S. under a different non-immigrant status, such as B-2 tourist status, you may apply for a change of status to L-1B and submitting the L-1B application will be sufficient to change the status if approved by the USCIS.

Step 4: Submission of DS-160

We submit form DS-160 to the U.S. embassy or consulate where the visa application will be made after the approval of the initial L-1B petition by the USCIS.

Step 5: Visa Interview

You will attend visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate by bringing the visa application notice, initial application package, approval notice issued by the USCIS and other documents to the interview.

Step 6: Visa Issuance

If the visa application is approved, you will receive the L-1B visa stamped in your passport.

What Are the Benefits of the L-1B Visa?

The L-1B visa offers several advantages:

a. Intra-Company Transfer

Enables the transfer of key personnel with specialized knowledge from a qualifying foreign company to a related U.S. entity.

b. Duration of Stay

The L-1B visa is initially valid for up to three years, with extensions available, for a maximum of five years. However, in the case of an L-1B new office application, the initial period of stay with the L1-B visa is one year, with two-year extensions up to five years in total.

c. Dual Intent

L-1B visa holders may pursue permanent residency in the United States while maintaining their non-immigrant visa status.

What Are the Required Application Documents?

When applying for the L-1B visa, applicants must submit:

a. Application Form

Completed Form I-129, Petition for Non-immigrant Worker.

b. Company Documentation

Evidence demonstrating the qualifying relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity.

c. Job Description

A detailed description of the specialized knowledge and the role to be undertaken in the U.S. entity.

d. Employment History

Proof of the applicant’s employment with the qualifying foreign company, such as contracts or payroll records.