Do I need to buy a return ticket for my family?

Generally, no. There is typically no legal requirement to purchase a return ticket for your family as a condition for approving the L-1 visa. This is tied to an important feature of this category: it is a dual intent visa.

Being a dual intent visa means that, even though it is a temporary visa, the holder may intend to remain longer or seek a change of status in the future without that affecting the petition. For this reason, unlike visas that require strong ties to the home country, the L-1 does not depend on return tickets to demonstrate that dependents will go back.

• There is generally no obligation to present a return ticket.
• The dual intent nature removes the requirement to prove return.
• Each consulate may have its own guidelines.

Since individual circumstances and consular guidelines vary, the safest course is to check the official instructions of the consulate or embassy and keep your documentation in order before traveling.

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.