Can a manager of a team of 2 people qualify for L-1A?

Yes, a manager who leads a small team can qualify for L-1A. The visa was created for the intracompany transfer of foreign executives and managers to offices in the United States, and the number of direct reports is not, by itself, the deciding factor.

What matters is the nature of the role. The professional must demonstrate that they genuinely exercise managerial or executive authority: making meaningful decisions, directing a function or department, allocating resources, and guiding internal processes, even with a lean team.

The candidate must also have served in an executive or managerial capacity abroad during the qualifying period required by the category before the transfer. A manager who only coordinates operational tasks, without decision-making authority, will generally face greater scrutiny than one who truly drives the strategy of their area.

• Authority to decide and direct the company or department.
• Responsibility over resources, priorities, and processes.
• Documentation that establishes the managerial or executive nature of the role.

Because each case is evaluated individually by USCIS, it is worth gathering detailed evidence of the role and confirming current requirements with a specialist before filing.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.