Can the foreign company be a holding company with multiple subsidiaries?

Yes. For the L visa, the foreign company can be a holding company that controls multiple subsidiaries and still serve as the entity that connects the overseas operation to the company in the United States.

What truly matters is the qualifying corporate relationship between the parties. It must be demonstrated that there is equity control or a clear link between the parent, the holding company, and the U.S. company receiving the employee, so that they all form part of the same organization operating across different branches.

• The holding company may own multiple subsidiaries without affecting eligibility.
• The connection between the companies must be supported by corporate documentation.
• The employee must be transferred within that same corporate structure.

Beyond the structure, the transferred employee must have completed the qualifying period of employment abroad and must perform managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge functions. Because every corporate arrangement is unique, it is worth reviewing the structure with specialized guidance and checking the current requirements with USCIS.

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.