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Is there a points system for the L-1?

The L-1 visa has no points system: the review focuses on the employee's relationship with the company and the role to be performed in the U.S. Thorough documentation of the corporate connection is key before filing.

Written by

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Updated on July 12, 2026
1 min read
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No. The L-1 visa does not use a points system. It is an intracompany transfer category, and its evaluation does not work like the points-based pathways used by some countries or programs to rank applicants.

Instead of adding points for factors such as age, education, or experience, the L-1 review focuses on the employee’s relationship with the company: the connection between the organization abroad and its branch, subsidiary, or affiliate in the United States, and the executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge role the person will perform.

In other words, what matters is demonstrating the corporate structure and the nature of the position through proper documentation, not reaching a minimum score on a points table.

Because requirements can be updated, it is worth verifying the current criteria with USCIS or a qualified immigration professional when preparing the petition.

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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Is there a points system for the L-1?

The L-1 visa has no points system: the review focuses on the employee's relationship with the company and the role to be performed in the U.S. Thorough documentation of the corporate connection is key before filing.

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