Can I travel as a tourist while my L-1 is pending and return for the interview?

Travel is possible, but it requires caution. The L-1 is a dual-intent visa, while the tourist visa (B-2) is not. Entering the United States as a tourist while your L-1 petition is pending can raise questions about your true intentions in the eyes of an immigration officer.

When entering as a tourist, you declare that you intend a temporary stay and will return to your home country. If the officer concludes that the trip is, in practice, meant to monitor or expedite the L-1 process, or to bypass the consular procedure, that may be interpreted as inconsistency and could harm both that entry and future applications.

Each entry is assessed individually, and having a valid visa does not guarantee admission. A few points to keep in mind:

• The B-2 does not allow the dual intent that the L-1 permits.
• Departing and re-entering for an interview may be seen as an attempt to skip procedural steps.
• Being transparent about the purpose of your trip is always the safest approach.

Since the final decision always rests with the border officer and every case has its own details, the best course of action is to review the latest guidance and assess your situation with a specialist before traveling with a pending petition.

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.