Manager or Executive
L-1A Intracompany Transfer
Transfer a manager or executive from your company abroad to its U.S. office, or open a new office in the United States. We prepare the documentation that shows the role and the relationship between the companies.
Schedule a free consultation (opens in a new tab)What is the L-1A visa?
The L-1A is a nonimmigrant visa for intracompany transferees: it lets a company with operations abroad transfer a manager or executive to a related company in the United States. The U.S. company files the petition with USCIS (Form I-129 with the L Supplement).
It also serves companies opening a new office in the United States. In that case, the first approval is for up to 1 year, and the petition must show that the office has secured physical premises and will support a managerial or executive role within that year. In a new office, the employee's year abroad must also have been in a managerial or executive role.
The stay is granted for up to 3 years at first and can be extended in 2-year increments, up to 7 years. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come along in L-2 status: the spouse can work in the United States, and the children can study. To qualify, the petition must show three elements:
- A qualifying relationship between the companies abroad and in the United States: parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate
- At least 1 continuous, full-time year of work for the company abroad within the 3 years before the petition, in a managerial, executive or specialized knowledge role
- A managerial or executive role at the U.S. company
Why work with us
USCIS Policy Manual framework
Our approach is grounded in official USCIS guidance. We don't guess: we follow the adjudicator's own reference material.
For the company and the employee
The petition comes from the company, but the case is about a person. We work with both, so the corporate records and the employee's history tell the same story.
Role-focused evidence
We help you show the managerial or executive nature of the role, through job descriptions, organizational charts and who does the day-to-day work: the U.S. team, contractors or staff abroad.
Clear communication
No confusing jargon. We explain every step in plain language, so you always know where you stand.
L-1A Intracompany Transfer
What we do for you
From the first analysis to the extensions of the stay, we guide the company and the employee through every stage.
Eligibility assessment
- Analysis of the relationship between the companies
- Review of the employee's time and role at the company abroad
- Honest assessment of viability, with feedback
Documentation strategy
- Guidance to gather the company's and the employee's documents
- How to show the managerial or executive role, with or without direct reports
Supporting documentation
- Company support letter for Form I-129
- Job descriptions and organizational charts, abroad and in the United States
- New office: business plan and evidence of the U.S. premises
Support after filing
- Response to a Request for Evidence (RFE)
- Response to a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID)
- 1 reapplication included if the petition is denied
Extensions
- Documentation for the extension petitions, up to the 7-year limit
- New office: the extension after the first year, with evidence of the U.S. operation
What's not included
For full transparency, these are not part of our service fee:
- Legal or attorney services: We do not provide legal advice or representation
- USCIS filing fees: Form I-129, the Asylum Program Fee, the Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee and other applicable government fees
- Premium processing: Optional fee for expedited processing, if you choose it
- Consular fees: Visa application fee (MRV) and other consular costs
- Certified translations: Translation of documents that are not in English
- Other third-party services: Accounting, company formation and any other outside service your case requires
Ready to start?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your company and the role in the United States. We'll give you honest guidance on eligibility and explain how we can support your L-1A petition.