Can I bring a nanny or domestic worker on an L-1 visa?

No. The L-1 is an intracompany transfer visa created to bring to the United States professionals who hold executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge positions. It was not designed to bring nannies, caregivers, or domestic workers.

The logic of this visa is the corporate tie: the visa holder continues working for the same organization that employs them abroad, now at the U.S. headquarters, branch, or subsidiary. Because hiring a domestic worker is a personal arrangement, not a transfer within a company, it falls outside the scope of the L-1.

Other visa categories exist for bringing domestic workers to the United States, each with its own conditions. The appropriate path depends on your specific situation and the type of employment relationship involved.

Since every case has its own details, it is worth checking the current rules with USCIS or reviewing your scenario with a specialist before making any decisions.

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.