Can I look for work at another company while on an L-1?

The L-1 visa is tied to a specific employer: it authorizes you to work only for the company that sponsored your transfer to the United States. That is the condition under which the visa was approved.

As a result, performing paid work for another company or employer on the side may be considered a violation of the L-1 terms and could jeopardize your immigration status. Exploring the market or talking with other companies is not the issue; what the L-1 authorization does not cover is actually working and receiving compensation from a different employer.

If you are considering changing jobs or a new opportunity has come up, the right approach is to evaluate legal alternatives before taking any action, such as:

• The possibility of a new petition filed by another employer under an appropriate category.
• A potential change of status to a different type of work visa.

Since every situation has its own specifics and rules can change, check the official USCIS guidance and consult an immigration attorney before accepting any work outside your sponsoring employer.

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.