L1 visa requirements
The employee must have been employed abroad by a qualifying organization for one continuous year within the three years before the petition, and must be coming to work for a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of that employer.[3][1]
| L-1A | L-1B | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Manager or executive | Specialized knowledge |
| Initial stay | 3 years (1 year for a new office) | 3 years (1 year for a new office) |
| Extensions | Up to 2 years at a time | Up to 2 years at a time |
| Maximum | 7 years | 5 years |
| Green card path | Often EB-1C (multinational manager) | Usually PERM, then EB-2 or EB-3 |
After reaching the maximum, the employee must generally spend one year outside the U.S. before a new L or H petition.[3] Initial-stay and extension periods follow the USCIS L-1A and L-1B pages.[1][2]
New offices and blanket L
A petition to open a new U.S. office may be approved for no more than one year, after which the company must show the office is doing business.[3][1] Large employers can use a blanket petition: the U.S. office must have been doing business for at least one year, the company must have three or more domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries or affiliates, and it must meet one of these:[1]
- at least 10 L-1 approvals in the previous 12 months;
- U.S. subsidiaries or affiliates with combined annual sales of at least $25 million; or
- a U.S. workforce of at least 1,000 employees.
Employees under a blanket are then processed on Form I-129S; blanket L-1B is limited to specialized-knowledge professionals.[1][2]
Fees and L-2 family
L-1 petitions use Form I-129 and pay the same Asylum Program and fraud-prevention fees as H-1B, plus a $4,500 Public Law 114-113 fee for large employers with more than half their U.S. staff in H-1B or L status.[4][5] L-2 spouses are employment authorized incident to status.[1] For a comparison of costs, see the H1B fee calculator; for investor-owners, the E2 visa; for green card timing after an L-1, the EB-2 visa bulletin.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay on an L1 visa?
Up to 7 years on L-1A and 5 years on L-1B, starting with an initial period of up to 3 years (1 year for a new office) and extensions of up to 2 years.
Is there a lottery for the L1 visa?
No. L-1 has no annual cap, so there is no lottery. The employer files a petition with USCIS or, under a blanket petition, the employee applies at a consulate.
Can an L2 spouse work?
Yes. L-2 spouses in valid status are employment authorized incident to status.
Sources
- L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager
- L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge
- 8 CFR 214.2: Special requirements for admission of nonimmigrants (E, H, L, O)
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/26/26)
- 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for H-1B and L-1 Visas, final rule, 91 FR 51360