Who approves the L-1 petition?

The L-1 petition is approved by the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), the federal agency responsible for reviewing and deciding nonimmigrant visa applications in the United States.

USCIS reviews the documentation and verifies whether the requirements for the category have been met. In practice, the analysis typically looks at points such as:

• The corporate relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity.
• The nature of the role to be performed (executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge).
• The consistency and integrity of the evidence submitted.

It is worth noting that the petitioning company normally files the petition, but the decision rests with the agency. A clear and well-documented case tends to facilitate the review, even though no outcome is guaranteed.

Because requirements and forms may change, it is advisable to check the latest guidance directly on the USCIS website or with 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.