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Specialized Knowledge

L-1B Intracompany Transfer

Transfer an employee with specialized knowledge from your company abroad to its U.S. office. We prepare the documentation that shows what sets that knowledge apart and the relationship between the companies.

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What is the L-1B visa?

The L-1B is a nonimmigrant visa for intracompany transferees with specialized knowledge: it lets a company with operations abroad transfer an employee who knows its products, services, research, processes or procedures in depth. The U.S. company files the petition with USCIS (Form I-129 with the L Supplement).

Specialized knowledge is more than experience in a field: it is special knowledge of the company's products, services or methods, distinct from what is common in the industry, or advanced knowledge of the company's own processes and procedures. It doesn't have to be secret or exclusive to the company, but it must go beyond what is common in the industry.

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 that the company can pay the employee and start doing business.

The stay is granted for up to 3 years at first and can be extended up to 5 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:

  1. A qualifying relationship between the companies abroad and in the United States: parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate
  2. 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
  3. A role at the U.S. company that requires specialized knowledge

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.

  • Evidence of specialized knowledge

    We help you show what sets the employee's knowledge apart, through training records, project history and the part it plays in the U.S. operation.

  • Clear communication

    No confusing jargon. We explain every step in plain language, so you always know where you stand.

L-1B Intracompany Transfer

What we do for you

From the first analysis to the extension of the stay, we guide the company and the employee through every stage.

  1. Eligibility assessment

    • Analysis of the relationship between the companies
    • Review of the employee's time and role at the company abroad
    • Review of where the employee will work in the United States, including at a client's site
    • Honest assessment of viability, with feedback

  2. Documentation strategy

    • Guidance to gather the company's and the employee's documents
    • How to show that the employee's knowledge is specialized

  3. Supporting documentation

    • Company support letter for Form I-129
    • Description of the specialized knowledge and how it was acquired
    • Job descriptions and organizational charts, abroad and in the United States
    • New office: first-year plan and evidence of the premises and of the company's ability to pay

  4. 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

  5. Extensions

    • Documentation for the extension petition, up to the 5-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: Any 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-1B petition.

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