Let Our Business Immigration Lawyer Obtain Your L-1 Visa
L-1 visas are available to employees of an international company with offices in both the U.S. and a country abroad. The U.S. employer and the foreign employer must have certain formal legal relationships acceptable to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If properly structured, an employee of the foreign business may be eligible for an L-1 visa. It is possible to obtain an L-1 classification for qualifying individuals if the foreign company intends to open an affiliated office in the U.S.
There are 2 types of L-1 visas:
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L-1A visas are for executives and managers.
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L-1B visas are reserved for workers with specialized knowledge.
For a “regular” L-1 visa, the company files a petition with USCIS and each petition is evaluated on its own merits.
With a “blanket” L-1 visa, USCIS has already determined a company qualifies for its employees to be eligible for a visa thereby simplifying the process.
Transferred employees may be accompanied by their spouses and unmarried children who are under the age of 21.
Spouses can be legally employed in the U.S. after they obtain Employment Authorization approval from USCIS.
Privileges of the L-1 and L-2 visa holders
- Can seek a change of status within the United States or obtain through consular processing.
- Allowed to seek extensions of status for up to 7 years, or 5 years for positions of specialized knowledge.
- The spouse of the L-1 visa holder will receive L-2 status, as well as unmarried children under the age of 21. The L-2 recipient spouse is eligible for work.
- Would you like to convert your L1 visa into a Green Card? The L-1 visa holder could be eligible for permanent residence (green card) through an EB1 visa petition.
- The beneficiary can be the owner/majority shareholder of both companies.
Eligible for premium processing for faster adjudication.
Why Should You Seek an Experienced L-1 Visa Attorney?
Immigration attorneys can assist with ensuring the U.S. office and foreign entity are qualifying organizations, guidance with qualifying businesses or enterprise types, and creating a long-term plan to ensure all members of family, including children, obtain and maintain their benefits of L-1. Not all businesses have good models for L-1 visas, and an experienced attorney can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different business models.
We have successfully assisted clients from Venezuela, Brazil, Italy, Dubai, Palestine, India, Egypt, Panama, and Mauritius seeking L-1 status. Our office has an incredible track record for successful L-1 cases.
If you are interested in seeking an L-1 visa for one of your employees, please fill out our online form provided on this page and our Ocala L-1 Visa attorney will get back to you shortly. Your privacy is very important to us and we will keep your information confidential.
