An L1 work visa USA can also be
utilised where an employee of a foreign company is migrating to the
United States in order to set up a new office, branch or subsidiary in
America.
In
these circumstances, US visas with an initial duration of one year will
be approved, after which time the enterprise must be seen to be
functioning effectively in order for the visa to be extended.
Like
UK work permits, the US L1 visa application process is an employer led
system with American companies petitioning for the recruitment of
foreign nationals where necessary. Like all US business visa services,
the L1 requires a guaranteed position of employment to be presented.
US immigration requires in almost all cases, that a guaranteed job offer be in place.
To
apply for a US visa, visit our online assessment area now to get
started. Simply complete the L1 assessment form and a Global Visas
migration consultant will contact you.
Benefits
Like a US H1B visa application for
skilled immigration to the USA, applying for an American L1 visa is
generally a much quicker process than making an application for lawful
permanent residence in the USA, or as it is more commonly known, A USA
Green Card application. As a result, USA visas of this class, along with
H1-B visas, tend to be more popular with employers wishing to bring
foreign nationals into the country to fill specific roles.
As
with H visas, L1 visas for the USA are not regarded as a route to
permanent settled status in the USA in themselves. However, like an H1-B
visa, which is not intrinsically a route to permanent residency but
allows a candidate to initiate the process of applying for a US Green
card whilst in the country, an L1 USA work visa may enable a candidate
to work towards obtaining Permanent Residency in the United States.
In
the USA, immigration through this route is specific to the sponsoring
company, and candidates will not be permitted to work for any other
company or organization unless a fresh L1 application is submitted.
Duration
American L1 visas for business
immigration to the USA are initially granted for a period of three
years. Beyond this, if the candidate is still required in this position,
the grant of leave may be extended in increments of two years up to a
maximum of seven years.
However,
once the maximum period for US L1 visas has expired, an applicant will
not be able to re-enter the country on an L or H visa or until they have
spent a minimum period of one year outside the country.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates migrating to the US through US L1 visas may enter the country in one of several streams.
L1A Managerial/Executive Capacity Visa
L1A visas are designed for those
being brought to the United States to engage in a senior-level
managerial or executive role. In America, immigration candidates in this
stream must be entering a role with supervisory responsibility for
professional staff and must be responsible for a key department,
division or function of the US company.
Applications
in this stream will need to be accompanied by a detailed outline of the
function and duties of the position. In the US, visas of this kind are
granted for an initial period of three years with the opportunity for a
US visa extension in two-year increments up to a maximum of seven years.
L1B Specialized Knowledge Visa
L1B visas are intended for those
coming to live and work in the US who have specialized knowledge and
experience of a company's products, services, systems or procedures. In
this stream, leave is initially granted for a period of three years
which may, if necessary be extended to five years.
In
either stream, candidates must have been employed by the sponsoring
company, in a branch outside the United States for a minimum of one of
the three years directly preceding the application. Candidates must have
been employed in either an executive or a managerial role or in a
position requiring specialist knowledge.
L1 New Office Visa
The L1 New Office visas is designed
for when a new parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate office is opened
in the US and wishes to employ a manager or executive but does not have
proof of extensive business activity in the US. A “new office” is
defined as “an organization which has been doing business in the US for
less than one year.”
To
obtain an L1 visa based upon opening a new office, the company must
show that it has sufficient physical premises for the office (such as
securing a lease); the intending foreign beneficiary meets the one year
physical presence requirement; and the intended US operation will
support an executive or managerial position.
L1 Blanket Visa
This visa is designed for companies
who have a high volume of intra-company employees that need to transfer
from one parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate office to another.
The
significant benefit of obtaining a Blanket L1 visa is that the employee
can apply for his/her L1 visa directly at the embassy or consulate in
their home country rather than have the application processed by USCIS.
Not only does this result in significant time savings, but also
financial savings for the company.
To
qualify for a L1 Blanket visa, the company must have an office that has
been doing business in the US for more than one year; has 3 or more
domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates; and have
combined US annual sales of $25 million, US workforce of 1,000, or
received approval of at least 10 L petitions in the last 12 months.
Dependent Immigration and Spouse Immigration
Whilst an L visa for US immigration
is not directly intended as a route to permanent settlement in the USA,
the potential is in place for it to lead to a Green Card visa
application. In addition, where candidates do not progress to permanent
immigration to the USA, a fully extended non-immigrant visa of this
kind will still entail living and working in the USA for a number of
years.
As
a result, American visas of this class allow the spouse and dependents
of candidates on an L visa application to enter the United States in
order to join the main applicant in the country. In these circumstances,
spouses and dependents will be issued L2 Visas.
A
spouse in possession of an L2 visa, (though not dependent children) may
later apply for a general work authorization, enabling them to seek and
undertake employment in the country. Though dependent children on an L2
United States visa are not permitted to work, they may undertake a
course of study in the USA.
Immigration USA
The L1 visa is just one pathway to
living and working in the USA. There are also several pathways to
permanent residency in the US. Visit the Immigration USA page to find
out more.
US Work Visa
Find out the full range of employment-based visas available for the USA by visiting the US Work Visa page.
US Business Visa
A US Business Visa is yet another pathway to living and working in the country, available to entrepreneurs and investors.
Green Card through Investment
Offering the greatest advantages for
businesspeople is the Green Card through Investment, allowing eligible
candidates to permanently live in the US.
Working Holiday Visa USA
Many US visas offwer the applicant a
perfect opportunity to live and work in the country temporarily and
enjoy a working holiday in the USA. Find out further information on
our Working Holiday Visa USA page. Visit this page to find out all your
options, or use the free assessment below to find out your best option
today.
