The L visa is a type of visa that allows for temporary intracompany transferees to enter and work in the U.S. for temporary periods of time. There are two classifications to the L visa, they are:
- The L-1A visa – for intracompany transferees who work in managerial or executive positions for a company that is located outside of the U.S.
- The L-1B visa – for intracompany transferees who work in positions requiring specialized knowledge with a company that is located outside of the U.S.
For both classifications of the L visa, your employer must file a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and pay the filing fee. Once you are approved for an L visa, you are allowed to enter and work in the U.S. for temporary periods of time, usually a two-to-three-year period. In total, L-1A visa holders can hold status for seven years, while L-1B visa holders can hold status for up to five years.
L-1 visa holders who visit the U.S. for brief periods or “intermittently” are eligible to extend their L-1 visa status for indefinite periods of time as long as they are still employed in an eligible U.S. position for their L visa. This often applies to individuals who commute into the U.S. from abroad or carry out essential short-term duties. Individuals who qualify are classified as “intermittent L-1s” and must be able to prove that they have spent less than 183 days in the U.S.
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