What is an l1 visa in the US?

The L-1 visa is a temporary work and residence permit for the United States. This work visa category allows internal staff transfers within a company group from the current foreign location to a U.S. location.

Who is eligible for L1 visa?

Under U.S. immigration law, a worker qualifies for an L-1 visa if the person has been employed outside the U.S. by the sponsoring company for at least one continuous year out of the past three years, and is being transferred to the U.S. to work as a manager, executive, or specialized knowledge worker.

What does L1 visa mean in US?

L-1A and L-1B visas may be issued when an employer files a petition to obtain authorization for qualified employees to be allowed to work and live in the United States. The L-1A visa is for intracompany transferees who work in managerial or executive positions in a company that is located outside the United States.

What is L1 visa and how it works?

L1 Visa is an Intra-Company Transferee Visa.

It is a non-immigrant visa which was mandated by the US Congress in 1970. The purpose of L1 visa is to allow large multinationals - with operations across various countries - to shift employees in specialized positions on a temporary basis to the United States.

How long is L1 visa valid in USA?

The L-1A visa has an initial period of stay of three years. Individuals can apply for renewals and may receive two extensions granted in two-year increments. This means individuals on an L-1A visa can remain in the U.S. for a total of seven years.

What is the L1 Visa? L1A vs L1B Immigration Requirements

Which is better L1 or H-1B?

On an H1B visa, the holder can stay for six years whereas an L1A visa holder is given 7 years and an L1B visa holder is given 5 years. There is an opportunity for an extension of stay on an H1B visa granting the holder an additional six years; however, there is no such extension for any L1 visa holder.

Is L1 visa easy to get green card?

Unlike the process for an L1B visa, which can take several years to complete, the time it takes to update your L1A to a green card is fairly short. In most cases, the green card process takes less than one year. The L1A visa is a great starting place if you or your family are interested in living in the United States.

How long does it take to get a green card with an L1 visa?

In some cases, permanent residence status may be issued after the completion of your adjustment of status interview. All things being equal, you should get your permanent residence status within 8 to 14 months of filing your petition. If your petition is approved, your green card will be mailed to you.

When can L-1 get green card?

EB-1C Requirements

In order to apply under this category, L-1 candidates must meet the following requirements: You must have been worked as a manager or executive with the foreign company for a minimum of one year in the three years prior to filing the petition.

What is the minimum salary for L1 visa?

L1 Salary vs H1B Salary

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the median wage for an H-1B worker in 2021 was about $108,000. While you can earn a minimum salary of up to USD 60,000 on an L1 visa.

How much does US L-1 visa cost?

L-1 visa filing fee: $460

The fee applies to applications for an initial L-1 visa filed from outside the US, for change of status petitions filed in the US and to L-1 visa extensions. There is no fee waiver for this form. After the I-129 has been filed and the filing fee paid, USCIS will process the petition.

How long does it take to get L-1 visa?

L1 visa processing times

Standard L-1 visa processing usually takes between 6 to 12 months. This includes processing of the I-129 petition, which can take up to six months, and consulate processing which can be expected to take up to six months or longer.

Can L-1 visa bring family?

Yes, your spouse and minor children may travel with you to the United States if you have a valid L-1 visa. However, they must apply for an L-2 visa for dependents to legally accompany you to America.

Can I work outside US with L1 visa?

L1 Visa Benefits

L1 visas may be beneficial for the following reasons. L-1 visa holder may live and work legally in the US. L-1 visa holder may travel within and outside the US. Spouse and children under 21 years of age are eligible to accompany L-1 visa holder on L-2 visa.

What is the difference between L1 and L1A visa?

There are two types of L1 visas: L1A, and an L1B. If you're a manager, executive, or business owner, an L1A visa can grant you a stay for as long as 7 years. If you're an employee with specialized skills and knowledge, an L1B visa grants you a stay for as long as 5 years.

How much does it cost to get a green card from L1A?

The government filing fees for getting a family-based green card is $1760 for an applicant living in the United States or $1200 for an applicant living outside the United States. This does not include the typical cost of the required medical examination, which varies by provider.

What is the success rate of L1 visa?

When and if you have been rejected your L-1 visa application, you will receive a Request For Evidence (RFE). Statistics show that a little over 57% of L-1 visa applicants recieve RFEs and 54% of those are approved after the RFE.

Is L-1 a permanent resident?

If you have L-1A visa status, you would likely qualify for permanent residency as a Multinational Manager or Executive. Multinational managers or executives may apply for permanent residency without having to apply for labor certification.

Is L1 visa hard?

L-1 Approval Rate. In the past 5+ years, L1 denial rates have been rather high. The 2021 denial rate for L1B petitions to transfer overseas employees with specialized knowledge to the U.S. was 26.2%. Compared to the H-1B petition denial rates, the L1 approval rate is lower.

Why are L-1 visas getting rejected?

One of the most common and increasing reasons why an L1 visa is denied is down to the assessment of specialised knowledge. You will need to provide evidence that the specialist knowledge is both invaluable to the company and cannot be provided by an American employee.

How to convert L-1 to green card?

There is a direct path from the L1A visa to a green card by filing Form I-140 Petition for Alien Worker with USCIS under the EB1C Category as a Multinational Manager or Executive. Form I-140 must be filed by the employer on behalf of the qualifying L1A visa employee.

What is the disadvantage of L1 visa?

Overall L1 Disadvantages

Temporary nature of the visa (maximum of seven years), and increased scrutinization have resulted in higher denial rates of L1 petitions. If you have any questions about the L1 visa, or if you need help applying for an L1 visa, feel free to call us at +1-818-741-1117.

What are the drawbacks of L1 visa?

No Extension Past the Maximum Period of Stay

There are even some visas like the O-1 and E-2 that allow for unlimited extensions. However, unfortunately, L-1 holders are only granted one extension after their initial three years. After that, they must either transfer their status or apply for a new L-1 visa.

What are the benefits of L1 visa?

The L-1 visa category offers several advantages over other types of work visas. No annual limit exists on the number of visas issued, and L-1 visa holders may pursue permanent U.S. residency. Some L-1 managers and executives may petition for a U.S. Green Card without the need for Labor Certification.

What happens if I lose my job on L1 visa?

What happens if I am fired or laid off by my employer while working in the United States on an L-1 visa? Generally, you would be required to leave the United States if you lost your job with your sponsoring employer.