L-1 Visa: Requirements, Types and How It Works
The L-1 visa lets a multinational transfer an executive, manager or specialized-knowledge employee to a U.S. office. Who qualifies, L-1A vs L-1B, stay limits and family.
Page reviewed October 17, 2026.
What it is
The L-1 is a nonimmigrant visa that lets a company transfer an employee from a foreign office to a related U.S. office.
The employee must have worked abroad for the company for one continuous year within the previous three years. The L-1A is for executives and managers and the L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge. The U.S. employer files Form I-129. The L-1 has no annual cap or lottery and needs no labor certification.
- Maximum stay
- 7 yearsL-1A. The L-1B is 5 years.
- Family
- L-2 statusSpouses in L-2S status can work.
- Cap
- No capNo lottery and no labor certification.
- Intent
- Dual intentYou can pursue a green card while in status.
What the L-1 is
The L-1 classification covers intracompany transferees. A U.S. employer moves an employee from one of its affiliated foreign offices to a U.S. office. A foreign company with no U.S. office yet can also send an employee to open one, which is the new office route.
L-1A and L-1B
- L-1A: an executive or manager. Executive capacity generally means making decisions of wide latitude with little oversight. Managerial capacity generally means supervising and controlling the work of professional employees and managing the organization or a department, subdivision, function or component of it, or managing an essential function at a high level.
- L-1B: an employee with specialized knowledge of the organization's product, service, research, equipment, techniques, management or other interests, or an advanced level of knowledge of its processes and procedures.
Who qualifies
- The employer must have a qualifying relationship with a foreign company (parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate) and be doing business in the United States and in at least one other country, directly or through a qualifying organization, for the whole stay.
- The employee must have been employed abroad by a qualifying organization for one continuous year within the three years before the petition, and must be coming to work for the same employer or a qualifying organization in a managerial or executive capacity (L-1A) or a position requiring specialized knowledge (L-1B).
- The business must be viable. USCIS does not require a minimum size, but it must be a real, operating business.
How long an L-1 lasts
- A new office petition allows an initial stay of up to one year. All other qualified employees can be admitted for up to three years.
- Extensions are granted in increments of up to two years. The maximum is seven years for the L-1A and five years for the L-1B.
Family
The spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply for L-2 status and generally receive the same period of stay as the employee. A spouse in valid L-2S status is employment authorized incident to status, and does not have to file for a separate work permit to start working.
Cost and timing
The USCIS government fees are separate from any service fee. Use the USCIS fee calculator for current amounts, because USCIS changes them. Since September 9, 2026, employers that are covered under the 9-11 Biometric Fee rule (50 or more U.S. employees, more than half of them in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status) must also pay that fee on H-1B and L-1 petitions. Premium processing can be requested separately for eligible L-1 petitions.
Related guides
Pricing
L-1 pricing
$10,000
flat fee, any visa
What the fee includes
- Eligibility strategy mapped to the requirements of your visa
- Support, expert and reference letters drafted and coordinated for you
- The full legal brief and every exhibit, prepared and filed
- RFE responses included at no additional cost
- Real-time updates in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese
- One team from first call to approval. No handoffs.
- If USCIS denies a petition Lando filed, Lando refunds its fee. Terms apply.
USCIS government filing fees are separate and paid directly to USCIS.
Why Lando
How Lando compares
A plain comparison with the way immigration petitions are commonly handled. Terms vary by firm, so check any provider's terms before you hire.
Price
Lando$10,000 flat fee per visa, published on the visa pages.
Commonly elsewhereOften billed hourly or by stage, so the total can change as the case grows.
Request for Evidence
LandoResponses are included at no extra cost.
Commonly elsewhereSometimes charged separately. Ask before you hire.
If USCIS denies
LandoLando refunds its fee for a petition it filed. Terms apply.
Commonly elsewhereNot always offered. Ask what is refunded.
Retainer
LandoNo retainer to begin, and no surprise invoices later.
Commonly elsewhereA retainer paid up front is common.
Who does the work
LandoOne team from first call to decision. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.
Commonly elsewhereVaries. Ask who will work on your file.
Languages
LandoCase updates in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese.
Commonly elsewhereVaries by firm.
Legal advice
LandoLando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Commonly elsewhereA law firm can give you legal advice and represent you directly.
General comparison, not a statement about any named firm. USCIS fees are separate and are paid directly to USCIS. No one can promise a USCIS decision.
How it works
From first call to filed petition
1. Evaluation
You get an honest answer.
We review your situation on a 15-minute call and tell you honestly whether the visa fits and what would make the case stronger. No retainer. No commitment.
2. Strategy
You know exactly what your case looks like.
We map which company documents and evidence prove each requirement, and what is still missing. You see the full picture before we file anything.
3. Preparation
Your petition is built without you lifting a finger.
Our team drafts the support letters and the legal brief, curates every exhibit, and reviews the full petition before it leaves our hands. You approve. We file.
4. Filing
Filed. You get on with your life.
Your petition is filed at USCIS and we manage every communication from there. We handle any RFE at no extra charge.
Common questions
What is an L-1 visa?
The L-1 is a nonimmigrant classification for intracompany transferees. A U.S. employer transfers an executive, manager or specialized-knowledge employee from an affiliated foreign office to a U.S. office, and files Form I-129 with USCIS.
What is the difference between the L-1A and the L-1B?
The L-1A is for executives and managers and can last up to seven years in total. The L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge and can last up to five years in total.
Does the employee need to have worked for the company abroad first?
Yes. The employee must have been employed abroad by a qualifying organization for one continuous year within the three years before the petition is filed.
Is there a cap or lottery for the L-1?
No. The L-1 has no annual cap and no lottery, and it does not require a labor certification.
Can an L-1 holder's spouse work?
Yes. A spouse in valid L-2S status is employment authorized incident to status. Children in L-2 status cannot work on that status.
Is Lando a law firm?
No. Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. For advice about your own situation, speak to a licensed immigration attorney.
Sources
- USCIS: L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager
- USCIS: L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge
- 8 CFR 214.2(l), intracompany transferees, on eCFR
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part L (Intracompany Transferees)
- USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing?
- USCIS Form G-1055, Fee Schedule
Checked October 2026.
Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.