Can I manage a Japanese company’s U.S. branch with an L-1?

Yes, managing the U.S. branch of a Japanese company typically falls under the L-1A, the L-1 category designed for executives and managers. It allows a multinational to transfer someone from its overseas workforce to lead or oversee the American operation.

Two pillars support the petition. First, the qualifying corporate relationship between the company in Japan and the U.S. unit (parent, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary), with the ownership structure well documented. Second, your track record: you must have worked for the group abroad during the qualifying period required, in an equivalent managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge role.

For the L-1A, the central point is that the U.S. role must genuinely be a command-level position, involving supervision, direction, and management of local operations, not a standard operational role. The Japanese origin of the company does not change the rule: what matters is the relationship between the entities and the managerial nature of the position.

Because each case is reviewed individually, it is worth confirming the current requirements with USCIS and structuring your documentation with an immigration specialist before filing.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.