Who this is for
- Employees who have worked for a related foreign company (parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate) for at least one continuous year within the three years before the petition
- Managers and executives coming to fill a managerial or executive role in the U.S. (L-1A)
- Employees with specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, research, systems or procedures (L-1B)
- Employees sent to open or help open a new U.S. office of the foreign company
- Companies that maintain a qualifying relationship between the foreign and U.S. entities and do business in both countries
Forms involved
| Form | Official name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| I-129 | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | The U.S. employer files this individual L-1 petition, with the L classification supplement, with USCIS. |
| I-129S | Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition | Used when the company already has an approved blanket L petition, usually presented by the employee at a U.S. consulate. |
| I-907 | Request for Premium Processing Service | An optional request for faster USCIS action on an eligible individual petition. |
| DS-160 | Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application | The visa application the employee completes before the consular interview. |
| I-539 | Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | Used by L-2 family members already in the U.S. to extend or change status. |
Step by step
- Confirm the company relationshipThe employer documents that the foreign and U.S. companies are related through ownership and control, and that both are doing business.
- Confirm the employee's qualifying yearThe employer gathers proof that the employee worked abroad for the related company for at least one continuous year in the past three years in a qualifying role.
- Choose individual or blanket filingLarge companies with an approved blanket petition can often send employees straight to a consulate with Form I-129S; others file an individual I-129 with USCIS.
- File the petitionThe employer files with evidence of the U.S. role, the company structure and, for new offices, the business plan and physical premises.
- Consular interview or change of statusEmployees abroad complete a DS-160 and attend a visa interview. Some people already in the U.S. may change status instead.
- ExtensionsThe employer can usually request extensions over time, up to the maximum stay allowed for L-1A or L-1B.
Documents usually requested
- Passport and current immigration documents
- Proof of employment abroad, such as payroll records, pay slips or employer letters
- Detailed job descriptions for the foreign role and the U.S. role
- Organizational charts for the foreign and U.S. companies
- Evidence of the corporate relationship, such as ownership records or annual reports
- Evidence that both companies are actively doing business (for example tax returns, invoices, contracts)
- For a new office: lease or proof of physical premises and a business plan
- Résumé and diplomas
- Marriage and birth certificates for L-2 family members
How long it takes
Timing depends on whether the case is filed through a blanket petition at a consulate or as an individual petition with USCIS, whether premium processing is used, and consular appointment availability. See the USCIS processing times page for current estimates.
Government filing fees
Form I-129 carries a USCIS filing fee, and L-1 petitions may also carry an anti-fraud fee and other statutory fees for certain employers; premium processing is an extra optional fee. Fees are set by USCIS and change, so check the fee schedule (G-1055).
Working and traveling while you wait
An L-1 worker may work only for the petitioning employer or its related companies as approved. L-2 spouses are generally authorized to work incident to their status, and L-1 holders can usually travel with a valid L-1 visa stamp.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting time that doesn't meet the one-continuous-year rule, such as time spent in the U.S. or gaps in employment
- Describing an L-1A job as "managerial" without showing who the person manages or what functions they control
- Not explaining what makes the L-1B knowledge truly specialized compared with others in the industry
- Filing for a new office without proof of physical premises or a realistic plan to grow within a year
- Weak evidence that the foreign company is still operating
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between L-1A and L-1B?
L-1A is for managers and executives, while L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company. L-1A usually allows a longer total stay and can connect more directly to certain green card categories for multinational managers.
How long do I need to work abroad before an L-1 transfer?
Generally at least one continuous year of full-time work for the related foreign company within the three years before the petition is filed. Some blanket cases allow a shorter period for certain professionals, and an attorney can confirm what applies.
Can an L-1 be used to open a new U.S. office?
Yes, a foreign company can transfer a manager, executive or specialized-knowledge employee to open a new U.S. office. The first approval is usually shorter, and the company must show at extension time that the office has grown and is doing business.
What is a blanket L petition?
A blanket petition is a one-time approval for large multinational companies that lets them transfer qualifying employees more quickly. Each employee then usually applies at a U.S. consulate with Form I-129S instead of the employer filing a full individual petition.
Can my spouse work on L-2?
In general, yes. L-2 spouses are considered authorized to work because of their status, and the I-94 record is typically annotated to show this.
Can an L-1 lead to a green card?
In many cases, yes. Managers and executives may explore the EB-1 multinational manager category, and other L-1 workers may pursue employer-sponsored green cards; an attorney can explain the options.
Official sources
- uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/l-1a-intracompany-transferee-executive-or-manager
- uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/l-1b-intracompany-transferee-specialized-knowledge
- uscis.gov/i-129
- travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
Last reviewed: October 2026
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Immigration rules, forms and fees change often — always check the official sources above. MyUSVisa is not a law firm and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency; legal advice comes only from the licensed attorney you choose.