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US L-1 intracompany transferee visa (L-1A and L-1B)

L-1A and L-1B intracompany transferee visas

In short

L-1 lets multinational companies transfer employees from an office abroad to a related US office. L-1A covers executives and managers and L-1B staff with specialized knowledge. You need at least 1 continuous year with the group abroad in the 3 years before the transfer.

Apply on USCIS – L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Initial stay up to 3 years (1 year for a new office); total 7 years for L-1A and 5 for L-1B
Fee
US$1,385Employer’s I-129 L fee on paper ($1,335 online) plus $600 Asylum Program Fee and $500 fraud fee; visa fee $205 (G-1055 10/16/26)
Processing time
Premium processing available: 15 business days for $2,965
Work
Only for the petitioning company in the approved role
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 on L-2 visas
Path to permanent residence
L-1A managers often move to the EB-1C green card category
Where to apply
Employer petitions USCIS (or uses a blanket L approval); interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or residence

New office petitions

Companies opening a first US office can send an L-1 employee if they have secured physical premises and, for L-1A, can show the office will support an executive or managerial position within 1 year. New office petitions are approved for an initial 1 year only.

Company and employee requirements

The US employer and the foreign employer must be qualifying organisations: parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate, and doing business in the United States and at least one other country during the stay. The employee must have worked for the group abroad for 1 continuous year within the 3 years before admission. L-1A is for executive or managerial roles; L-1B requires specialized knowledge of the company’s products, processes or procedures.

Fees

USCIS charges $1,385 ($1,335 online) for an L petition, plus the $600 Asylum Program Fee (reduced for small employers and non-profits), the $500 fraud prevention fee for initial L classification and, for some large employers with mostly H-1B or L staff, $4,500. The visa application fee is $205.

Extensions and family

Extensions are granted in increments of up to 2 years, to a total of 7 years for L-1A and 5 years for L-1B. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 apply for L-2 visas and generally receive the same period of stay.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Valid passport, one 5 × 5 cm photo and the DS-160 confirmation page

Work

  • Form I-797 approval notice and a copy of the I-129 petition
  • Employer letter describing your role abroad and in the US

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Work

  • Proof of 1 year’s employment abroad: payslips, social insurance records, contract

Family

  • Marriage and birth certificates for L-2 family members

How to apply, step by step

  1. Confirm your employer abroad and the US company are related and you have 1 year of qualifying employment.
  2. The US company files Form I-129 (or uses a blanket L approval).
  3. After approval, complete the DS-160 and pay the $205 visa fee.
  4. Attend the interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate with the approval and employment evidence.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

Can a small foreign company use L-1 to open a US office?

Yes, under the new office rules, if it secures premises and meets the qualifying relationship and employee requirements; the first approval is for 1 year.

What is the difference between L-1A and L-1B?

L-1A is for executives and managers (up to 7 years); L-1B for specialized knowledge staff (up to 5 years).

Can L-2 spouses work?

L-2 spouses are treated as employment authorised incident to status; check USCIS guidance on the documents used to prove it.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for the United States

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP on the I-94 at entry, usually up to 6 months for visitors
  • Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP; an extension can be requested with Form I-539 if treatment continues
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: Immediate and continuous transit only; never more than 29 days

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Set by CBP on the I-94 at entry, usually up to 6 months for visitors
  • Investor visa Maximum stay: Admission normally for up to 2 years at a time, renewable while the business qualifies

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: From 15 September 2026: the programme end date, up to 4 years, plus a 30-day departure period; longer study needs an extension from USCIS
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Length of the programme, up to 5 years
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Interns up to 12 months; trainees up to 18 months (12 months in agriculture and hospitality and tourism)
  • Au pair visa Maximum stay: 12 months, extendable by 6, 9 or 12 months with State Department approval

Work

  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years in total
  • Work visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years initially; extensions in 1-year increments
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Period of the certified need, usually up to 1 year, extendable to a 3-year maximum

Family

  • Spouse and partner visa Validity: K-1: 90 days to marry; CR-1: 2-year conditional green card; IR-1: 10-year green card
  • Family reunification visa Processing time: Immediate relatives: no queue after petition approval; preference categories: years, depending on the Visa Bulletin

Residence

Online travel permits

Faster processing

Protection

United States visa guide