I have 3 years at the company, but not all as a manager. Does it count?

It may count. With the L visa, what matters is not just the total time at the company but having completed the qualifying period in an eligible role: managerial or executive for L-1A, or specialized knowledge for L-1B.

If you have time at the company but not all of it was in a managerial position, the key question is whether, within the recent period the visa considers, there was sufficient time in a qualifying role. It is worth noting that the definition of a managerial or executive role goes beyond the job title: it looks at responsibilities, decision-making authority, and supervision of people or departments.

• What matters is the time in the qualifying role, not just the total time at the company.
• A managerial role is assessed by actual responsibilities, not by title.
• Map out which periods and roles fulfilled the requirements for the category.

Because the analysis is case by case, gather clear documentation of your roles and responsibilities and confirm your eligibility with the official USCIS source or a qualified specialist before filing.

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.