Can I receive awards or bonuses from third parties on an L-1?

On the L-1, the line between acceptable and risky comes down to the source of the payment and how it relates to the role you were transferred to perform. Because this is an intracompany transfer visa, your compensation should center on the package offered by the sponsoring employer.

Awards and bonuses that are established and paid by the sponsoring company in the United States, as part of your overall compensation, generally fall within what the visa allows. The concern arises when money comes from external sources and is not tied to your responsibilities at the sponsoring company, as that can raise questions about work or income outside the authorized scope.

• Bonuses included in the sponsoring company’s package tend to be acceptable.
• Payments from third parties unrelated to your role may be viewed as unauthorized activity.
• Each arrangement is assessed based on its specific context, not by a single rule.

Because this type of situation depends heavily on the details, be cautious about offers that fall outside the normal employment structure. Before accepting anything, verify the classification through the official source (USCIS) and review your case with a specialist to avoid putting your status at risk.

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.