I have a passport from another country; can I use it to apply for the L-1?

Yes. The L-1 does not impose any restriction based on passport nationality. What matters is your situation within a multinational company, not the country that issued your travel document.

The L-1 is designed to transfer executives, managers, and specialized knowledge professionals from an overseas company to its branch, parent, or affiliate in the United States. The review focuses on the employment relationship, the type of role, and the corporate ties between the companies, not on the passport’s country of origin.

You can use a passport from another country to apply for the visa, provided it remains valid throughout the entire process and at the time of entry into the United States. You will also need to demonstrate your work history with the company and the ongoing relationship between the foreign operation and its U.S. counterpart.

Because each case has its own particulars, it is worth organizing your documentation with a specialist and reviewing the latest USCIS guidance to ensure your petition is complete and consistent.

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.