Can I work on different client projects in the US with an L-1B?

Yes, as long as the work is performed on behalf of your company. The L-1B authorizes you to work for the organization that sponsored the visa, the entity that maintains the corporate relationship between the overseas company and the US entity. Serving different clients is allowed when that activity is part of the services rendered on behalf of that sponsoring company.

The boundary appears when the work is no longer for the sponsor. Providing services directly to third parties with no connection to the company that transferred you, as if you were their own employee, can violate the terms of the L-1B and carry immigration consequences.

• Allowed: serving multiple clients as part of the services your sponsoring company provides.
• Must align with the functions described in the visa petition.
• Not allowed: becoming workforce for another company that is not your sponsor.

Placements at client sites have their own rules and are analyzed on a case-by-case basis, so it is worth structuring the arrangement carefully. Before taking on a project involving third parties, confirm the current requirements with USCIS or with a 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.