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Does non-continuous work experience count for the L-1B?

For the L-1B, what matters is demonstrating the qualifying period of work abroad, generally continuous, with the multinational company. See how to organize your work history and confirm the requirements with USCIS.

Written by

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Updated on July 17, 2026
1 min read
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The L-1B is the L-1 visa category for employees with specialized knowledge who are transferred from a multinational company to a unit in the United States. One of the core conditions is having worked for the corporate group abroad for a qualifying period before the petition is filed.

The rule typically requires that time to have been continuous, within a recent window defined by law, precisely to demonstrate a stable employment relationship with the organization sponsoring the transfer. As a result, experience accumulated in an interrupted or fragmented manner tends to make it harder to establish the requirement.

This does not mean that any gap automatically eliminates eligibility: what matters is being able to document the required period in a clear and coherent way. Because the details are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, putting together a well-organized employment history makes a real difference.

Before filing a petition, it is worth verifying the updated requirements with USCIS and, if there is any doubt about the continuity of your work history, reviewing the case with a specialist.

Learn more about L-1

Type
Intracompany transfer
Duration
1-3 years
Extension
Up to 5-7 years
Processing
2-5 months
All about L-1

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.

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Does non-continuous work experience count for the L-1B?

For the L-1B, what matters is demonstrating the qualifying period of work abroad, generally continuous, with the multinational company. See how to organize your work history and confirm the requirements with USCIS.

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