Question: What Is The L1 Visa Program?

An L-1 visa is a visa document used to enter the United States for the purpose of work in L-1 status. It is a non-immigrant visa, and is valid for a relatively short amount of time, from three months (for Iran nationals) to five years (India, Japan, Germany), based on a reciprocity schedule.

How does L1 visa work?

L-1 visa allows companies to open a US operation for the transfer of its executives, managers and specialized employees. L-1-B visa is for specialized employees, who have essential specialist skills or knowledge. In either case, it is the employer (“petitioning employer”) that submits the visa application.

Who is eligible for L1 visa?

To qualify for an L1 visa the employee, which can include business owners, must have worked for a subsidiary, parent, affiliate or branch office of the US company outside of the US for at least one year out of the last three years. One of the benefits of the L1 visa is that there is no quota.

What is L1 visa means?

Unlike the H-1B, where an individual is looking to join and American company, the L-1 visa is issued to those who are already employed by the company in another country, and who are merely relocating to an American office. These visa holders are known as intracompany transferees.

Is L1 visa difficult to get?

Not just the H1B Visa; it is getting increasingly difficult to even get the L1 Visa. The refusal rate for both the L1A and L1B Visas have increased in recent times. The L1A Visa is for Managers and Executives while the L1B Visa is for workers with specialized expertise.

How long can you stay on L1 visa?

There is a seven-year maximum stay for L-1A visa holders and a five-year maximum stay for L-1B visa holders. Once you have reached your maximum stay, you may not extend your L-1 visa again, until you have been outside of the U.S. for at least one year.

How long does it take to get a green card from L1A visa?

Unlike the process for an L1B visa, which can take several years to complete, the time it takes to update your L1A to a green card is fairly short. In most cases, the green card process takes less than one year. The L1A visa is a great starting place if you or your family are interested in living in the United States.

Which is better H1B or L1 visa?

H1B has stringent requirements while L1 Visa is more suitable for multinationals and is less time consuming than H1B visas. Also, L-1 and H-1B have ˜dual intent in that visa holders in both categories can aim for green card while staying as a nonimmigrant in the United States.

How much does L1 visa cost?

The fee applicable for L-1 visa is as follows: Filing fee of $325. In case individuals require premium processing, then an additional fee of $1,225 will have to be paid. Detection and Fraud Prevention fee of $500. An additional fee of $2,250 may be applicable based on circumstances.

What is the difference between L-1 and L1A visa?

L1 Visa Types Foreign employees eligible for L1 visas will be granted either an L1A or L1B visa. The L1A visa is for managers and executives. The L1B visa is for professionals with specialized knowledge.

Does L1 visa need EAD?

As permission to work in the United States as an intra-company transferee is implicit within your nonimmigrant L1-A or L1-B visa status, you do not need to obtain an L1 EAD. L1 dependents however, will require an EAD as an L2 visa holder.

Can I study on L1 visa?

Can i study on L1 visa?

Can L1A be rejected?

Unless you can prove that the employee has specialized knowledge that no other American employee possesses, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will reject a request for an L-1 visa.

Can I move from L1B to L1A?

To move into a managerial or executive position, you can file for Change of Status from L1B to L1A visa status. The petition for Change of Status must be approved at least 6 months before the L-1 employee reaches the 5-year maximum for L-1B status. Only your employer can apply for Change of Status on your behalf.

Does L1 visa have lottery?

When US employers wish to hire skilled workers on a temporary US visa, they often use the H1B visa and L1 visa (L1A and L1B). There is usually a lottery in April for available H1B visas to start in October in the same year.