Does a company need to be multinational to apply for an L-1?

Not in the sense of having an extensive global presence. The L-1 does not require the company to be a large multinational; what it requires is a qualifying corporate relationship between the entity abroad and the one in the United States.

In practice, the two companies must be linked as parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate, with a clear and documented ownership or control tie. Even if the international structure is lean, it is that connection, not the size of the group, that supports the transfer of the employee within the same organization.

• The focus is on the relationship between the companies, not the global scale of the group.
• The tie (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate) must be clearly established and documented.
• The employee’s qualifying period of work abroad also counts.

If the company cannot demonstrate that relationship between its units, the petition does not meet the requirements. It is therefore important to structure and document the corporate tie carefully and review the updated criteria with USCIS or a qualified 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.