Can I transfer employees from one country to another using the L-1?

Yes, but with a specific direction: the L-1 is the pathway to transfer employees to the United States, not a generic instrument for moving people between any two countries. It relocates executives, managers, and professionals with specialized knowledge from an overseas unit to an American branch, subsidiary, affiliate, or parent company.

For the transfer to qualify under the L-1, the employee must have worked abroad for a company within the same corporate group during the required qualifying period. In addition, the role to be filled in the U.S. must correspond, in level and responsibility, to a managerial or executive function (L-1A) or a specialized knowledge position (L-1B).

The company, in turn, must demonstrate the qualifying corporate relationship between the overseas operation and the U.S. entity. That link between the two companies is what underpins the petition.

• The L-1 transfers employees to the U.S., not between just any two countries.
• The employee must have worked within the corporate group during the qualifying period.
• The U.S. role must be compatible (L-1A or L-1B).

Since each case has its own nuances, it is worth thoroughly preparing the documentation of the corporate relationship and the employee’s work history, and verifying the updated requirements with USCIS or a qualified specialist.

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.