Intracompany Transfers (L-1)

Multinational corporations can transfer employees to the United States in L-1 visa status if they have worked for the company abroad for at least one year within the past three years and if the companies have more than fifty percent common ownership. The employees must qualify as either executives or managers (L-1A) or possess highly specialized knowledge (L-1B).

Initially, the employee can stay in the United States for up to three years and can then extend their stay in two-year increments for up to five years if they are classified under L-1B specialized knowledge or up to seven years if they are classified as L-1A executives or managers.