My spouse also works at the foreign company: can they get a separate L-1?

Not automatically. Each L-1 petition is evaluated on its own merits, so the fact that your spouse also works at the company abroad does not, by itself, generate a second L-1 for them. What matters is whether each individual meets the visa requirements independently.

If the goal is for your spouse to hold their own L-1, they will need to qualify on their own: having served in the foreign company in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity and being assigned to a compatible role at the U.S. entity. The analysis looks at the functions, responsibilities, and organizational structure on both ends.

There are, however, two different paths to consider:

• A standalone L-1, when the spouse qualifies independently as a transferred professional.
• The L-2, the category for spouses and children of the L-1 principal, designed for accompanying dependents and which, in certain cases, may allow work authorization.

Because each situation depends on each person’s individual profile, it is worth carefully evaluating both scenarios and confirming the current requirements with a specialist before deciding between a new L-1 and the L-2.

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.