Have I had L-1 before, completed 5 years. Can I have L-1A for 2 years?

The L visa is an intracompany transfer option that allows executives, managers, or professionals with specialized knowledge to work in the United States while the company maintains operations outside the country. This visa is divided into two main categories: L-1A, for executives and managers, and L-1B, for employees with specialized knowledge.

Each category has a maximum total period of authorized stay – 7 years for L-1A and 5 years for L-1B – and this time is cumulative throughout the person”s entire L status journey. If you have previously obtained an L visa and used 5 years of accumulated stay time, it is important to consider that, regardless of the transition between categories, the total allowed time under L status is limited.

Thus, if the 5 years already used count towards the total time granted for the category under which you were (for example, if it was L-1B), a change to L-1A, which has a total limit of 7 years, would mean that, in theory, you could have up to 2 years remaining of stay in the United States under this new status.

However, it is essential to analyze, on a case-by-case basis, whether this ”upgrade” to the L-1A category is appropriate and whether you meet all necessary requirements, especially regarding the executive or managerial role. Each situation involves specific details, such as how previous time was counted and how the new petition will be made.

Therefore, it is essential to always follow United States immigration laws and proceed with caution. It is recommended to seek guidance from reliable and specialized sources in the area – ensuring that the analysis of your history and current requirements are properly considered – and to avoid falling for promises of easy or guaranteed results, which are often part of dubious marketing campaigns.

Remember: complying with all rules is indispensable for the success of the process. Although this explanation provides a general overview, a detailed evaluation of your case can only be made with a personalized analysis.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.