L-1A Visa (Intra-Transfer Company Employee Work Visa)

What is an L1 Visa?

The L1 is a temporary visa that enables companies operating both in the US and overseas to transfer an employee from its foreign operations to the USA for up to 7 or 5 years. The employee must have worked for a branch office of a US company abroad for at least one year during the last three years.

What are the requirements?
There are two types of employees who can obtain a L1 Visa.

1. Managers/Executives

  • If the individual is in a Managerial position abroad and will be a Manager here, they can get the L-1A. They must perform a supervisory duty to establish goals and policies that direct an organization’s functions. They must supervise professionals.
  • A person in this category is issued a L1-A visa for a three years period and is renewable twice for two years for total of seven years. The advantage of this visa is that a person can also qualify for a green card while employed during L1 status without the labor certificate.

2. Specialized knowledge Staff

  • A person in this category must have in depth knowledge of a company’s processes and procedures such as products, services, research and management.That person should not simply be a skilled worker having skills necessary to do any jobs. They must possess technical knowledge of the company’s inner business, which cannot be possessed by a non employee.
  • A person in this category receives an L1-B visa which is approved for three years and can be extended once for 2 years for total of five years.

NEW OFFICE

  • Note that is a person is coming to establish a new office in the US; they are initially given 1 year, which is then extended subsequently depending on the viability of the business.
  • After completing the L1 status, the person must leave the US and be employed abroad for one year before a new application is processed.

REQUIREMENTS FOR L-1A VISA:

1. Articles of Incorporation of Company in U.S. and abroad (or Partnership Deed)

2. Tax EIN # for Company in U.S.

3. Copy of Lease Agreement of U.S. Company

4. Sample of Invoices of Company abroad for past three years

5. Bank account Statements of Company Abroad, for past 3 years

6. Financial Account Statements of Company Abroad (showing that they have employed beneficiary)

7. Evidence showing fund transfer from Company abroad to Company in U.S.

8. Letter of recommendation from clients of Company Abroad

9. Pictures of Company Abroad and in U.S.

10. Chart Showing Organizational Chart of Company Abroad

11. Copy of Business Plan for U.S. Company

12. Copies of University Degree and Diploma of individual beneficiary

13. Copies of transfer of funds from the Company abroad to the new company

14. Description of the managerial type job held by beneficiary in Company abroad and in U.S.

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