Will I lose my L-1 if I take maternity leave?

As a rule, no. Officially granted maternity leave that does not sever the employment relationship with the company normally does not cause you to lose L-1 status. This is because the visa is tied to the employment relationship with the sponsoring employer for the transfer.

During an absence that is anticipated and agreed upon with the employer, the employee remains a member of the same company, which preserves the basis of the visa. A leave period covered by the company’s internal policies and applicable law does not, by itself, automatically trigger loss of status.

Greater attention is needed for situations that change the employment relationship itself, such as:

• A significant change to the employment contract.
• Termination of the employment relationship with the sponsoring employer.
• Extended absences that were neither anticipated nor authorized.

The practical step is to confirm with HR how your leave fits your specific situation and, if any doubt arises, seek specialized guidance to keep everything in compliance with immigration requirements.

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.