Does the L-1 depend on the employee’s nationality?

Not directly. The L-1 is an intracompany transfer visa, and what the adjudication examines is the employment relationship and the employee’s qualifications within the organization, not their country of origin.

In practice, the factors that matter are how long the person has worked for the company abroad and whether the position to be filled in the United States justifies the transfer. Nationality alone is not an eligibility factor for the L-1.

This applies to both categories:

• L-1A: for executive or managerial roles.
• L-1B: for professionals with specialized knowledge.

In both cases, what matters is the role and the experience accumulated abroad, not the employee’s origin. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth confirming updated requirements with USCIS and, if needed, seeking specialized guidance rather than relying on promises of guaranteed results.

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.