An L-1 visa allows employees of companies opening new offices in the US to work there. There are two types of visas, L-1A for executives and L-1B for other workers, and successful applicants can bring their families. USCIS evaluates applications, and the visa is a stepping stone to a green card and US citizenship.
An L-1 visa is a government document provided by the United States government that allows the visa holder to work in the United States. The visa allows both the holder and their spouse to work in the United States and all of the visa holder’s children to attend public school. While a visa does not affect citizenship, it can act as a stepping stone to a green card and can lead to pursuing US citizenship.
An L-1 visa is granted to employees of any company that is opening new offices in the United States and is requesting the transfer of workers to the US office. There are two types of visas, the L-1A and the L-1B. The L-1A visa is designed for executives and is valid for up to seven years. The L-1B visa is designed for other workers and is valid for up to five years. After the L-1 visa is terminated, the employee must then leave the United States for over a year before being able to apply for another visa.
Applications for an L-1 visa can be done in two ways. Regular L-1 visas require an individual application, which is evaluated by the US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) department to determine whether the applicant is eligible to work in the United States. Alternatively, the company looking to relocate to the United States may be able to apply for an L-1 visa. In these cases, USCIS will pre-approve the company to move employees to the United States, and each employee only needs to submit paperwork to the US embassy or consulate to be approved to enter the United States.
The process of applying for an L-1 visa involves submitting a form to USCIS, along with documentation to prove that foreign and American companies meet the legal requirements for issuing visas. The application may be denied if USCIS determines that the parent company does not intend to continue operations in the United States following the issuance of the visa or if the applicant is not eligible to hold a visa. Applicants may request reconsideration following a rejection by contacting USCIS.
Successful visa applicants can bring their family to live in the United States. A visa holder’s spouse is also granted an L-1 visa, provided a marriage certificate is provided. Upon receipt of the visa, the spouse is able to apply for a Social Security number and can then work for American employers. Those under 21 can apply for an L-2 visa, so they can attend public school. For more information about applying for L-1 visas and required documents, contact US Citizens and Immigration Services.
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