Can I run my U.S. company remotely from another country and still hold an L-1?

As a general rule, no. The L-1 was designed for transferred professionals who actually work within the company’s operations in the United States. The underlying logic of the visa is a direct, in-person contribution to the U.S. entity, not remote management from abroad.

That does not mean every trip or activity outside the U.S. is prohibited. It is perfectly normal for an executive to have commitments overseas from time to time. The real concern is different: if the core work and key decisions begin to happen outside the country, that can undermine the basis on which the visa was granted.

Running the company entirely by remote work while living abroad tends to raise questions about whether the L-1 conditions are being met. A lack of effective presence and activity in the United States can negatively affect the maintenance of your status.

Because this is a matter of interpretation that depends on the specifics of each case, it is worth checking the current rules through official sources and seeking expert guidance before building an arrangement that relies heavily on remote work from outside the U.S.

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.