L-1A Visa for Executives and Managers Explained
The L-1A visa transfers an executive or manager from a foreign company to a U.S. office. What qualifies as executive or managerial capacity, new offices and the seven-year limit.
Page reviewed October 17, 2026.
What it is
The L-1A lets a U.S. employer transfer an executive or manager from an affiliated foreign office to a U.S. office, or lets a foreign company send an executive or manager to open one.
The employee needs one continuous year of work abroad for the company in the previous three years. The initial stay is up to three years (one year for a new office), extensions come in increments of up to two years, and the maximum is seven years.
- Role
- Executive or managerTransferred by a qualifying company.
- Maximum stay
- 7 yearsExtensions in increments of up to two years.
- First stay
- Up to 3 yearsUp to 1 year for a new office.
- Family
- L-2 statusSpouses in L-2S status can work.
Executive and managerial capacity
- Executive capacity generally refers to the ability to make decisions of wide latitude without much oversight.
- Managerial capacity generally refers to supervising and controlling the work of professional employees and managing the organization, or a department, subdivision, function or component of it. It can also cover managing an essential function at a high level without directly supervising others.
- USCIS looks at the actual duties and the structure of the organization, not only the job title.
What the petition has to show
- A qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign companies, such as parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate.
- That the employee worked abroad in a qualifying role for one continuous year within the previous three years.
- That the U.S. role is executive or managerial, with a description of the duties.
- That the employer is, or will be, doing business in the United States and abroad for the duration of the stay.
New office L-1A
A foreign company that does not yet have a U.S. office can send an executive or manager to establish one. The employer must also show that it has secured sufficient physical premises, that the employee held an executive or managerial role abroad for one continuous year in the previous three years, and that the new office will support an executive or managerial position within one year of approval.
Period of stay
A new office employee receives an initial stay of up to one year. Other L-1A employees receive up to three years. Extensions can be granted in increments of up to two years until the employee reaches seven years in total.
L-1A and the green card
Many multinational managers and executives move from the L-1A to an employment-based green card in the EB-1C category, which is filed by the U.S. employer.
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
Who qualifies for an L-1A visa?
An executive or manager who has worked abroad for a qualifying organization for one continuous year within the previous three years, and who is being transferred to a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate in the United States in an executive or managerial role.
How long does the L-1A last?
The initial stay is up to three years, or one year for a new office. Extensions are granted in increments of up to two years, to a maximum of seven years.
Can a foreign company use the L-1A to open a U.S. office?
Yes, through the new office route, where the employer must show premises, the employee's one year abroad as an executive or manager, and that the U.S. office will support an executive or managerial position within one year.
Does the L-1A lead to a green card?
It can. Multinational managers and executives may qualify for the EB-1C green card category. The U.S. employer files the petition.
Is the L-1A subject to a cap?
No. There is no annual cap and no lottery for the L-1A.
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
Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.