L-1 Visa USA: Move Your Team or Your Company to the United States
For owners, managers and key specialists of a company abroad who want to work in a related U.S. office and want to know, before filing, whether the L-1 fits. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- The L-1 moves an executive, manager or specialist from a company abroad to a related U.S. office. A U.S. company files for you.
- You generally need one continuous year with the foreign company in the last three years before you enter.
- L-1A (managers and executives) can reach seven years. L-1B (specialized knowledge) can reach five.
- Your spouse can work in the U.S. on L-2S status. Your unmarried children under 21 can come but cannot work.
- Canadians do not need a visa stamp. They can present the petition at the border or at a preclearance airport.
Why do L-1 petitions fail?
Most L-1 problems come from a weak link between the two companies, thin proof of your role abroad, or a U.S. office that is not ready. USCIS checks that the companies are related, that you worked abroad for one continuous year in the last three, and that your duties fit manager, executive or specialized knowledge. A weak petition costs you months and filing fees that USCIS generally does not refund (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. You set up the U.S. company first and check the rules later. Your job title says manager, but your day-to-day work is not managerial. Or you learn too late that a lease and a plan were needed before the petition, not after.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel anxious, because your business and your family move together. You feel unsure, because the rules sound simple until you read them. And you feel rushed, because the clock on that one year keeps running.
None of that means you did something wrong. It means no one walked you through the test in order. The sections below do that.
Who is behind your L-1 plan, and why trust them?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you check your fit and plan your move, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing. We also know both sides of the border, so we can tell you when Canada is the better move.
Many of our clients are business owners moving between Canada, the Gulf and South Asia.
Empathy: We know how much rides on a move where your company, your family and your savings all travel together.
Authority: Amir Ismail has worked in immigration since 1991. Over 35+ years, our team has guided 25,000+ clients from Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. That includes many owners choosing between the United States and Canada.
Philosophy: We believe you should check the one-year rule and the company link before you spend on a U.S. office. We believe a good advisor tells you when the L-1 is the wrong visa. And we believe you should know exactly who files your case.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you pick your U.S. route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Honest route check
We tell you when a route does not fit, before you spend money.
A plan for your profile
We look at your record, citizenship and capital, not a template.
Clear on who does what
AIA organizes your plan. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file.
A two-country view
We know the Canada and U.S. sides, so you can compare both.
Built for your passport
We check your citizenship first, so you never plan around a visa you cannot use.
Since 1991
35+ years in immigration, 25,000+ clients guided, and the 2026 Canadian Choice Award.
What is the L-1 intracompany transfer visa?
The L-1 visa lets a U.S. employer transfer an executive, manager or specialized-knowledge employee from a related foreign office to a U.S. office. It also lets a foreign company send an executive or manager to open a new U.S. office. The U.S. employer files Form I-129 for you (USCIS).
You do not apply for it alone. The U.S. company and the foreign company must be related as a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate, and the company must do business in the U.S. and in at least one other country.
In plain words: you move inside your own company, and the L-1 is the permit that lets you do it.
Who qualifies for an L-1 visa?
You qualify if you worked abroad for a related company for one continuous year within the three years before you enter, and you will work in the U.S. as a manager, an executive or a specialized-knowledge employee. The two companies must have a qualifying relationship, and both must be doing business (USCIS). New offices have extra rules about premises and staffing.
Here are the requirements, in plain words:
- One continuous year: you worked for the foreign company for one continuous year within the three years before you enter.
- Qualifying relationship: the foreign and U.S. companies are a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of each other.
- Both companies do business: the employer does business in the U.S. and in at least one other country, regularly and continuously.
- Role: your U.S. job is executive, managerial or specialized knowledge.
- New office: the employer has secured sufficient physical premises, and for L-1A the U.S. office must support a managerial or executive position within one year.
What is the difference between L-1A and L-1B?
L-1A is for executives and managers, and L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company’s products, services or processes. L-1A can reach seven years in total, and L-1B can reach five (USCIS). Both need the same one continuous year abroad.
- L-1A: you lead the company, a department or a function. Best for owners and senior managers.
- L-1B: you hold advanced knowledge that is specific to the company. Your evidence has to show what makes your knowledge advanced.
What counts as a qualifying relationship?
A qualifying relationship means the U.S. and foreign companies are linked as a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. One company owns and controls the other, or both are owned and controlled by the same parent or person. Your attorney will check the ownership papers before filing (USCIS).
Who this is not for. If you have not worked for the foreign company for a full year in the last three, you cannot use the L-1 yet. If you have no company abroad, look at the E-2 or the O-1 instead.
Not sure which side of the line you are on? The short form tells you, in a few minutes.
What does AIA do for you?
We help you check your fit, test your plan, and arrange an independent U.S. attorney for you who files. Each service below has a clear benefit and a clear reason it matters. We do not file with USCIS or give U.S. legal advice.
| What we do | What you get | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Company link check | A first view of whether your two companies qualify | You fix ownership gaps before you file |
| One-year rule check | A clear count of your time with the foreign company | You know your earliest safe date |
| Role check | A view on whether your duties fit manager, executive or specialist | Your evidence matches the right category |
| New office readiness | A checklist for premises, staffing and plans | The U.S. office is ready before the petition |
| Independent U.S. attorney hand-off | A licensed attorney advises you and files | You can trust the legal side |
| Green card planning | A first view of what could come after the L-1 | You plan the next step from day one |
Think of us as the person who reads the map with you. The attorney drives the car.
How the L-1 process works
You take three steps: answer the short form, get your route review, and meet an independent U.S. attorney. AIA helps you check your fit and organize your plan, and the attorney handles the legal work and the filing. How you enter the U.S. depends on your citizenship (USCIS, CBP).
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us your citizenship, your role, your company and how long you have worked there.
Step 2: Get your route review
If your answers fit the L-1, we call you to go over your plan and what to gather.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law, and file Form I-129 for you once they are engaged under your signed agreement.
- Your U.S. company is ready to file
- Next:
- Are you a Canadian citizen?
- Yes:
- Option 1: USCIS approves Form I-129, then you present the approval at a port of entry or preclearance airport
- Next:
- CBP decides whether to admit you as an L-1
- Next:
- Option 1: USCIS approves Form I-129, then you present the approval at a port of entry or preclearance airport
- Yes:
- Option 2: you present the petition package to CBP at a port of entry or preclearance airport
- Next:
- CBP decides whether to admit you as an L-1
- Next:
- Option 2: you present the petition package to CBP at a port of entry or preclearance airport
- No:
- USCIS approves Form I-129, then you apply for an L-1 visa through the State Department and enter
- Next:
- CBP decides whether to admit you as an L-1
- Next:
- USCIS approves Form I-129, then you apply for an L-1 visa through the State Department and enter
- Yes:
- Are you a Canadian citizen?
- Next:
Can Canadians apply for an L-1 at the border?
Yes, Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp for the L-1, and they can present the petition at a U.S. port of entry or a preclearance airport. They can also get USCIS approval on Form I-129 first and then show the approval notice at the border. CBP decides at the border whether to admit you as an L-1 (CBP).
For the Canada-specific steps, see L-1 for Canadians.
L-1 or E-2: which fits a company owner?
If you own a company abroad, compare the L-1 with the E-2. The L-1 needs a related foreign company and one year of service, and the E-2 needs treaty citizenship and an investment. Many owners fit one and not the other, so check both.
| L-1 | E-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a company abroad | Yes, with a qualifying relationship to the U.S. company | No |
| Needs treaty citizenship | No | Yes |
| Needs a one-year track record | Yes, one continuous year in the last three | No |
| Needs an investment | No fixed amount, but a ready U.S. office | A substantial investment in a real, active business |
| Stay | L-1A up to 7 years, L-1B up to 5 | First stay up to 2 years, extensions of up to 2 years each with no limit on the number |
See each route: E-2 and L-1 vs H-1B.
How long can you stay on an L-1, and who can come with you?
Your first stay can last up to three years, or one year for a new office, and you can extend in steps of up to two years (USCIS). L-1A tops out at seven years in total, and L-1B at five. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come on L-2 status, and your spouse can work in the U.S. because USCIS treats L-2S spouses as work-authorized incident to status.
Children can study but cannot work. Plan the end date early, especially for L-1B.
Does the L-1 lead to a green card?
The L-1 can be a step toward a green card, but it does not lead to one on its own. L-1A holders often look at the EB-1C green card for multinational managers and executives, and USCIS treats that as a separate petition with its own tests. An L-1A approval is relevant but not decisive, and a new-office company cannot use EB-1C until it has been doing business for at least a year (USCIS Policy Manual).
Start planning the green card step on day one. See U.S. green card options and the EB-2 NIW page for a self-filed alternative.
Find my U.S. route
Answer a few questions. A member of our team will contact you. No obligation.
AIA is not a law firm. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys we arrange for you under a signed agreement.
Questions about cost, time and results
Most owners ask three things before they start: what it costs, how long it takes, and whether they will qualify. The answers below are honest and short. If yours is missing, the short form lets you ask.
How long can I stay on an L-1?
Your first stay can last up to three years, or one year for a new office, and you can extend in steps of up to two years (USCIS). L-1A can reach seven years in total, and L-1B can reach five. After that you must leave, change status, or move to a green card route.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come on L-2 status (USCIS). Your spouse can work in the U.S. without a separate permit, and your children can study. Children who turn 21 may lose eligibility, so timing matters.
What does the L-1 cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the government, your attorney, and the cost of setting up or running the U.S. office. Government fees are set by USCIS, and each attorney sets their own fees. The U.S. office is often the largest cost, and it is the part you control through your plan.
We do not quote fees on this page.
A wrong filing costs more than a good plan, because government fees are generally not refunded. Testing your plan first is the cheaper path.
How long does the process take?
It depends on how ready your documents are, how busy USCIS is, and how you enter the U.S. Premium processing, border presentation and a blanket petition can each change the pace. We do not quote dates before we review your case, because a guess helps nobody.
The part you control is the start. The short form takes a few minutes, and the route review follows.
Will I qualify?
No one can promise you will qualify. The short form and the route review tell you honestly where you stand, including when the L-1 does not fit. If it is a poor match, we say so before you spend money.
That is also why some people leave with a different visa than the one they came for. A better-fitting route beats a hopeful filing.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep guessing, and the one-year clock and your plan drift apart. If you check your fit first, you move forward with the right category and the right attorney. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another year of reading conflicting advice. A U.S. company sits set up but unused. A petition that does not fit costs you months and fees you will not get back.
If you act now: you know whether you qualify, you know what to gather, and you know who files your case. You feel relieved and confident, because the next step is clear. That is what we help you reach.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
U.S. legal scope. AIA is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in the United States. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys, chosen case by case for fit and cost, whom we arrange for you under a signed agreement. Any attorney-client relationship is between you and that attorney. AIA’s Canadian immigration services are separate. This page is general information, not legal advice.
