Visto n' Visa
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the most common questions about the L-1 visa.
No. The L-1 visa does not require a formal business plan like investment-based visas, but in new office cases (L-1 new office) the company must show through documentation that the U.S. operation is viable and well-structured.
Read full answer →There is no minimum age to be an executive on the L-1A. The analysis focuses on the executive or managerial role performed (strategic decisions, team leadership, and resource management), not the applicant's age.
Read full answer →No. The L-1 does not impose nationality restrictions: professionals from any country may be transferred, as long as they meet the requirements for corporate-group ties and experience in the role. What matters is the professional profile, not the applicant's origin.
Read full answer →No. The cap gap is a mechanism tied to the H-1B that helps F-1 students bridge their status during the change of status process, due to the annual visa limit. Because the L-1 has no annual cap, this mechanism does not apply to it.
Read full answer →The L-1B petition does not revolve around a minimum or prevailing wage, as the H-1B does, but rather around the intracompany transfer and specialized knowledge. Once employed in the U.S., the worker is covered by local labor and minimum wage laws.
Read full answer →Yes, attorney fees for the L-1 can vary considerably. The amount depends on the complexity of the case, the professional's experience, and the region. There is no single price: request detailed quotes and compare the scope of service.
Read full answer →No. The L-1 is an intracompany transfer visa within a multinational and requires active performance of the qualifying role; using it solely to hold money in the U.S. without working is inconsistent with the rules governing this status.
Read full answer →Yes. A U.S. company with no employees can still petition for L-1, as long as it demonstrates it operates a real, ongoing business. What matters is not team size, but concrete and well-documented commercial activity.
Read full answer →There is generally no prohibition on studying full-time with an L-1 visa, as long as studying does not interfere with the duties that justified the transfer. If study becomes your main focus, consider switching to the F-1 visa.
Read full answer →Yes, the L-1 visa carries a core restriction: the holder may only work for the company that sponsored the transfer, and cannot provide services to third parties or take on duties outside the scope approved in the petition.
Read full answer →Yes. Nationality is not an obstacle for the L-1, which is a visa tied to the company, not to your origin. Applying at a U.S. consulate outside your country of residence is generally possible, but each post has its own requirements, such as proving lawful residence.
Read full answer →Track your L-1 petition through the official Case Status Online tool on the USCIS website, entering the receipt number you receive when the petition is accepted. For any questions, use official USCIS channels or consult your attorney.
Read full answer →Yes, L-1 status holders can generally pursue a graduate degree, provided the studies are complementary and do not interfere with the work duties that support the visa. The primary purpose of L-1 remains professional activity.
Read full answer →With dual citizenship, choose one passport and use it consistently throughout the L-1 process. Make sure it is valid for U.S. entry and that your personal data matches your sponsoring employer's records, with no contradictions across documents.
Read full answer →There is no fixed timeline: L-1 processing at the consulate varies based on the volume of requests at that post, case complexity, and any administrative steps. Always check updated times on the official U.S. consulate or embassy website.
Read full answer →Yes, it is possible to pursue the E-2 while on an L-1, but it is not automatic: you must meet the E-2's own requirements, such as being a national of a country with a commerce treaty with the US and making a substantial investment in a real and viable business.
Read full answer →Yes, switching from L-1B to L-1A is possible, but not automatically. A promotion alone is not enough: you must show that the new duties are genuinely managerial or executive, supported by a new company petition to USCIS.
Read full answer →In most cases, yes. From an L-1B, the common path to a green card runs through EB-2 or EB-3, where PERM (labor certification) is usually required. Some paths, like certain EB-1 subcategories, may waive it, but apply to specific profiles.
Read full answer →Not directly. The L-1 is a transfer visa and does not, by itself, grant tax benefits to the company. Any incentives depend on state, local, or industry-specific policies and the business profile, not the employee's immigration status.
Read full answer →It depends on corporate continuity. Reopening under a new CNPJ typically creates a new legal entity, which can sever the relationship that supports the L-1. Status tends to be preserved only if there is a formal ownership and control link between the old and new company.
Read full answer →When entering the U.S. on an L-1, the I-94 is the electronic record of your admission: CBP scans your passport at the port of entry and creates the record, confirming your status and admission date. It can be reviewed and corrected on the official CBP website.
Read full answer →Not by law, but in practice it helps considerably. The L-1A requires proof of the hierarchical structure and the executive or managerial character of the role, and a clear org chart shows where the applicant fits, strengthening the petition before USCIS.
Read full answer →Probably not, without adjustments. The L-1 requires an active and qualifying relationship between the foreign entity and the U.S. operation. If the overseas entity closes, the visa foundation is weakened and your status may be reviewed or revoked.
Read full answer →There may be a difference, but neither L-1A nor L-1B has a fixed processing time. Actual timing depends more on service workload, case complexity, and any additional review than on the category itself. Check updated times at USCIS.
Read full answer →Not necessarily. The L-1 is tied to your employment relationship with the sponsoring company, so an extended medical leave alone tends not to affect the visa as long as employment continues. The risk arises if the leave leads to termination or ends that relationship.
Read full answer →No. Because the L-1 allows dual intent, you are not required to prove ties to your home country, unlike purely temporary visas. The focus is on the continuous employment relationship with the company abroad and the genuine need for the transfer.
Read full answer →Possibly, but not automatically. The L-1B requires knowledge that is truly specialized and unique to the company; generic marketing skills rarely qualify. Proficiency in methods or systems exclusive to the organization opens a viable path.
Read full answer →No. The L-1 is an intracompany transfer visa for executives, managers, and professionals with specialized knowledge, and it does not cover the hiring of nannies or domestic workers for personal purposes.
Read full answer →Yes, as a general rule you can apply for another visa if your L-1 is delayed, but it is not automatic: it depends on your profile, your role in the U.S., and your company's situation, and you must meet all the new category's requirements.
Read full answer →Yes. During a pandemic, L-1 issuance can be affected by delays and changes in scheduling, interview, and consular processing protocols. Timelines and conditions may vary, so follow official updated guidance.
Read full answer →For the L-1 interview, bring your valid passport, DS-160 confirmation page, appointment receipt, consulate-format photos, and company documentation proving the transfer and the link to the U.S. entity.
Read full answer →No. The L-1 has no annual numerical cap on approvals, unlike the H-1B, which operates under an annual quota. A petition can be filed at any time of year, but the absence of a cap does not guarantee approval: each case is evaluated individually by USCIS.
Read full answer →For the L-1, there is no general policy granting emergency priority: petitions follow standard timelines. An optional premium processing service exists for eligible categories, but it has its own rules and costs and is not an emergency channel.
Read full answer →No. USCIS does not provide legal assistance for completing L-1 forms; it offers official instructions on the forms and its website, but these do not replace advice from a qualified immigration professional.
Read full answer →Yes. An L-1B can be denied if the officer is not convinced the employee's knowledge is genuinely specialized. The assessment is subjective and case-by-case, so demonstrating skill uniqueness with clear documentation is decisive.
Read full answer →In general, a paid internship is unlikely to count toward the L-1, because the visa requires prior experience at the company abroad in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge role, evaluated case by case by USCIS.
Read full answer →At the consulate, the L-1 typically involves a nonimmigrant visa application fee and, depending on nationality, a possible reciprocity fee after approval. Fees change frequently, so confirm the current amounts through official U.S. sources.
Read full answer →The 'New Office L-1' carries a shorter initial period, suited to the opening phase, and does not renew automatically under the same category. If the office develops and meets requirements, the company may apply for an extension to the regular L-1.
Read full answer →There is no fixed number of interviews for the L-1. As a rule, everything is resolved in a single interview; if inconsistencies arise, the officer may request clarifications or documents on the spot and, if needed, schedule a new session.
Read full answer →Yes. In L-1 cases, officers evaluate the company's financial structure, and questions about share capital may arise, as it signals the business's financial strength. Come prepared to provide clear and accurate information about the company's financial health.
Read full answer →As a rule, no. The L-1 is granted for in-person work in the U.S. at the sponsoring company, so performing your duties from another country may fall outside the visa's scope and create immigration, tax, and labor risks.
Read full answer →In the L-1 process, the background check is conducted by agencies such as USCIS and the Department of State: it includes forms about criminal history, fingerprint collection, and database checks. Prior residence abroad may require local clearance certificates.
Read full answer →No explicit rule prohibits living in Mexico and crossing the border daily to work on an L-1, as long as you maintain effective U.S. presence for the approved role. Be aware of tax implications in each country as well.
Read full answer →No. The L-1 is a transfer visa for people already employed by the company who will take on an executive, managerial, or specialist role, not an internship visa. For internships or exchanges, other categories, such as the J-1, tend to be more appropriate.
Read full answer →File a police report, contact your country's embassy or consulate to get a new passport, and notify the U.S. representation if your travel or stay depends on the L-1. The visa remains valid; handle the loss carefully.
Read full answer →L-1 status is tied to the company that sponsored your transfer. Investing or holding a stake in another business is generally possible, but actively managing your own company may conflict with the visa conditions.
Read full answer →The L-1 allows multiple entries: while the status is valid, the holder can leave and re-enter the US as many times as needed. Keep a valid passport with the visa and documentation proving the relationship with the sponsoring company.
Read full answer →L-1 holders are generally paid in U.S. dollars, in line with U.S. labor rules. Bonuses or benefits negotiated in a foreign currency are possible, provided they are converted and properly documented. When in doubt, review your contract terms with a specialist.
Read full answer →With the L-1, days spent outside the U.S. generally do not count toward the maximum authorized stay and may be recaptured with documentation. Eligibility also does not depend on continuous U.S. residence, but on the tie to the company abroad.
Read full answer →Yes. The L-1 is a dual intent visa, so you can pursue a green card and maintain L-1 status at the same time without that, on its own, being a problem. The key is to keep meeting all L-1 requirements while the process moves forward.
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