Can I keep working remotely for the foreign company 100% of the time?

Maintaining 100% remote work for the foreign company while in the United States on an L-1 visa is a scenario that calls for caution. The L-1 was designed to transfer executives, managers, or professionals with specialized knowledge from an overseas company to a related U.S. entity, with their duties tied to that American employer.

If, in practice, you shift to working entirely for the foreign company without performing the duties associated with the U.S. entity, this may be interpreted as a material change in visa terms. A change of this nature can affect your legal status and may create complications in future immigration proceedings.

• L-1 authorization is tied to the relationship with the U.S. employer.
• Changing the nature or format of the work is not a neutral decision.
• Any adjustment must be in compliance with current regulations.

Before adopting such an arrangement, the safest course is to obtain an individual assessment of your case from a specialist and confirm the current rules. This prevents misinterpretations and protects the regularity of your status.

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.