Licensed L-1A Visa Lawyer for Intracompany Executive Transfers

L-1A petitions fail on documentation gaps, not eligibility. Our attorneys prepare each case by documenting the role and the corporate relationship before the petition reaches USCIS.
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Our Approach

The Reality of the L-1A Visa

The L-1A visa is not available to just any employee a company wants to relocate. USCIS requires proof that the person holds a genuine executive or managerial position, not just the title. The corporate relationship between the foreign entity and the U.S. office must be legally documented. For new U.S. offices, the bar is higher still. Initial approval covers one year. Renewal requires evidence that the U.S. office is generating revenue and actively operating with hired staff.

The Law Offices of Mary Kennedy, an immigration law firm with two decades of experience, handles L-1A visa petitions spanning established multinationals and first-time U.S. office expansions. Our L-1 visa attorney team documents what USCIS will look for before the petition goes in. Every element USCIS examines is addressed before submission, not after a question arrives. A petition built on the right evidence does not just get filed. It gets approved.

Requirements

L-1A Visa Requirements

USCIS holds both the company and the transferee to distinct qualifying standards. Here is what USCIS expects your petition to demonstrate.

The employee must show

  1. At least one continuous year of employment with the foreign company in an executive or managerial capacity within the past three years.
  2. The U.S. role must be genuinely executive or managerial. Title alone does not satisfy the requirement.

The petitioning U.S. company must show

  1. A qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign and U.S. entities, established as a parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch structure, supported by corporate records.
  2. Clear evidence of ownership and control of both entities through documentation such as articles of incorporation or ownership agreements.
  3. Active business operations in both the U.S. and at least one other country throughout the duration of the transfer.
  4. New office petitions require secured physical premises and a first-year operations plan demonstrating business viability.
  5. An organizational chart showing where the transferee sits within the company structure and the direct reporting relationships.
Documentation

L-1A Visa Required Documents

An incomplete L-1A package gives USCIS grounds to issue an RFE or deny outright. Our attorneys review every document before the petition goes in.
The U.S. company must submit
  • Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with the L supplement completed in full.
  • Evidence of the qualifying corporate relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities, such as articles of incorporation or ownership agreements.
  • Organizational chart showing the transferee’s position and reporting structure within both the foreign and U.S. entities.
  • Job description specifying the executive or managerial duties the transferee will perform in the U.S. role.
  • Evidence of active U.S. business operations, including financial statements or client contracts.
  • New office petitions require proof of secured physical premises and a business plan demonstrating first-year operational viability.
The transferee must provide
  • Valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the intended period of stay.
  • Evidence of employment with the foreign company for at least one continuous year within the past three years, supported by offer letters or payroll records.
  • Performance reviews, promotion letters, or role descriptions proving the overseas position was genuinely managerial or executive.
  • Form DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application, required for consular processing outside the U.S.
  • For applicants filing a Change of Status from within the U.S., all prior visa stamps, I-94 arrival records, and previous USCIS approval notices are required.
Benefits

L-1A Visa: The Benefits

The L-1A visa allows multinationals to assign senior leadership to the U.S. without exposure to the H-1B lottery or PERM labor certification.

No annual cap and no lottery

Up to seven years maximum stay

Direct pathway to EB-1C green card

L-2 status with work authorization for spouses

New U.S. office establishment available

Premium processing in 15 business days

FAQ

L-1A Visa: Common Questions Answered

How long does the L-1A petition process take?

Standard processing runs between two and four months from filing to approval, depending on the USCIS service center handling the case. Premium processing through Form I-907 reduces that to 15 business days. That 15-day clock applies only to USCIS adjudication. Consular appointment availability and visa-stamping timelines fall outside it. For transfers with hard start dates, our team builds the petition with premium processing factored in from the start.

What is a new office L-1A petition and how is it different?

A new office L-1A allows a foreign company with no existing U.S. entity to transfer an executive or manager to establish one. The initial grant is one year. USCIS scrutinizes these petitions more closely than established office cases because the U.S. business does not yet have a track record. At renewal, USCIS expects evidence of active operations, hired staff, and generated revenue. The petition at both stages must demonstrate a credible business, not just intent.

What triggers an L-1A Request for Evidence?

USCIS issues RFEs on L-1A petitions most often when the job description does not clearly establish that the role is executive or managerial rather than operational. The qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign and U.S. entity is another common gap. For new offices, a vague business plan is the most common problem. USCIS expects specific evidence of physical premises and a realistic first-year staffing and revenue plan. Each of these is avoidable. Our L-1 visa attorney reviews every petition for these pressure points before filing.

Can an L-1A visa holder apply for a green card?

Yes, and the transition is more straightforward than most employment-based green card routes. The EB-1C category covers the same executives and managers the L-1A is built around. Because USCIS has already assessed the qualifying corporate relationship and the nature of the role during the L-1A adjudication, much of that evidentiary groundwork transfers directly. No labor market test is required. For executives and managers already in L-1A status, the EB-1C represents the most direct green card option available without a separate certification process.

What is a blanket L-1 petition and who should consider it?

A blanket L-1 allows large multinational companies to transfer multiple executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees to the U.S. without filing individual petitions for each. USCIS approves the company’s eligibility once. Individual transferees then apply directly at a U.S. consulate using the blanket approval. To qualify, the company must have operated in the U.S. for at least one year, maintain three or more domestic and foreign offices, and meet either a 1,000-employee or $25 million annual sales threshold. For companies with frequent transfer needs, blanket L-1 significantly reduces both processing time and legal costs.

Move Your L-1A Case Forward

Connect with our L-1 visa lawyer today and get a clear petition strategy before your transfer window closes.
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