Can small companies sponsor L-1?

Yes. Company size is not, in itself, what determines eligibility for the L-1. What matters are the requirements set by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), not the number of employees or revenue.

A small company can sponsor the L-1 as long as it can demonstrate a qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign entity and the U.S. entity, fitting into one of the required categories: parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate. The ownership and control structure linking both ends must be clearly established.

It is also necessary to show that the transferred employee held a position of leadership, management, or specialized knowledge within the organization prior to the transfer. For smaller businesses, the challenge often lies in organizing the documentation that evidences this structure and the roles performed, ensuring consistency between operations abroad and in the United States.

Since each case is assessed individually, it is worth confirming updated requirements with USCIS or an immigration professional, and being cautious of promises of easy solutions.

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.