L-1A Intracompany Transferee
L-1A Visa Documentation for Executives & Managers
No annual cap. No lottery. No degree requirement. Transfer leadership into a U.S. office, or open a brand new one. Our case documentation team prepares both the corporate and the individual side of the file, supported by an in-house panel of 350+ professors and industry experts. 23+ years of documentation experience.
The Category Explained
What Is the L-1A Visa?
The L-1A lets a multinational organization transfer an executive or manager from a qualifying foreign office to a related U.S. office — or send one to establish a brand new U.S. office. There is no annual cap, no lottery and no degree requirement, which makes it a practical route when H1B registration is not an option. The employee must have worked for the qualifying organization abroad for at least one continuous year within the preceding three. Initial status runs up to three years, extendable to seven in total, and L-1A managers and executives may later pursue the EB-1C green card.
The Core Tests
The Three Tests Every L-1A Petition Must Pass
All three must hold. A weakness in any one of them is where L-1A files come unstuck.
A qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign entity — parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate — with common ownership and control
One continuous year of employment with the qualifying organization abroad within the three years preceding the petition
Employment abroad in an executive, managerial or specialized knowledge capacity, and a U.S. role that is executive or managerial
For new offices: secured physical premises in the United States and the financial ability to support the operation
Managerial Capacity
You manage the organization, a department, subdivision, function or component; supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees, or manage an essential function; hold authority over hiring and firing or comparable personnel actions; and exercise discretion over day-to-day operations.
Executive Capacity
You direct the management of the organization or a major component; establish goals and policies; exercise wide latitude in discretionary decision-making; and receive only general supervision from higher-level executives, the board of directors or the shareholders.
Not sure whether the role reads as managerial or executive on paper? A personalized eligibility review will tell you in one conversation.
Book Free ConsultationEligibility Profiles
Who May Qualify for an L-1A Visa?
L-1A is company-driven. These are the organizations and roles we prepare documentation for most often.
Country & Regional Heads
Leaders directing a major component of the business who are being relocated to the U.S. entity.
Department Managers
Managers supervising professional or supervisory staff within engineering, sales, finance or operations.
Function Managers
Those managing an essential function of the organization without direct reports, where the function is documented.
Founders & Directors
Owners and directors of an established foreign company opening a related U.S. entity.
C-Suite Executives
Executives who set goals and policy and operate under only general supervision from a board.
New Office Leadership
Executives or managers sent to establish and build out a first U.S. presence.
IT & Engineering Leadership
Delivery heads, practice leads and engineering directors within multinational technology groups.
Group & Affiliate Structures
Transfers between affiliates and sister companies under common ownership and control.
Expanding Into the U.S.
The New Office L-1A
If the U.S. entity has been doing business for less than a year, it is treated as a new office — a different documentation exercise with a shorter first grant.
1 · One-Year First Grant
New office petitions are approved for an initial period of one year rather than three.
2 · Premises Secured
Evidence that sufficient physical premises for the U.S. operation have been secured, such as a signed lease.
3 · Business Plan
A documented plan showing the enterprise will support an executive or managerial role within one year.
4 · Extension Review
At the one-year mark you must show the office is doing business and the role has become genuinely managerial or executive.
Why NAIS
Why L-1A Applicants and Companies Choose NAIS
23+ Years of Experience
Over two decades assisting individuals and companies with U.S. immigration documentation.
Documentation Specialists
A case documentation team that works on intracompany transfer files every day.
Corporate Evidence Handled
Ownership charts, incorporation records and inter-entity documentation prepared properly.
Role Documentation That Holds
Organizational charts and duty breakdowns that show managerial capacity rather than assert it.
New Office Experience
First-year records structured so the extension filing is straightforward, not a scramble.
Dedicated Case Management
A named point of contact, scheduled check-ins and a shared view of what is outstanding.
Opening a U.S. office? We prepare the corporate documentation package alongside the transferee’s file.
Speak With Our TeamHow It Works
Our L-1A Documentation Process
Five stages, clearly scoped, so both the company and the employee know what is happening and what comes next.
Eligibility Review
We test the corporate relationship, the year abroad and the role against the standard.
Documentation Checklist
Separate checklists for the U.S. entity, the foreign entity and the employee.
Evidence Collection
Ownership records, org charts, payroll, contracts and role documentation gathered and indexed.
Petition Preparation
Forms, support letter framework and exhibit list assembled in order.
Filing Support
Final review, submission guidance, and documentation help if an RFE is issued.
Come Prepared
Documents Commonly Required for an L-1A Petition
Every case differs. Most L-1A documentation packages draw on some combination of the following.
Passport, Form I-94, prior I-797 approval notices and current status documents are also needed where applicable.
In-House Expert Network
Expert Opinion & Specialty Occupation Letters
L-1A cases are won on how clearly the role is documented. Where a position sits in a flat structure, manages a function rather than people, or spans an unfamiliar industry, an independent evaluation from a qualified professor or industry specialist can explain why the duties are genuinely managerial or executive within that sector — in their own words, from outside the company.
We keep that capability in house. Our panel of 350+ professors and industry experts covers business administration, management, engineering, finance, technology and the applied sciences. The same panel prepares specialty occupation letters and degree equivalency evaluations where a related H1B or other filing calls for them.
Every letter reflects the reviewer’s own independent professional judgment. We prepare and coordinate the supporting documentation; the assessment itself belongs to the expert.
Managerial Capacity Evaluations
Independent assessments of whether a role is managerial or executive by the standards of that industry.
Specialty Occupation Letters
Academic evaluations of whether a role requires a specialized body of knowledge and a degree in a specific field.
Degree Equivalency Evaluations
Foreign degrees, and education combined with progressive experience, assessed against U.S. standards.
RFE Response Support
If an RFE challenges managerial capacity, we help assemble the supplementary record and a supporting opinion.
Need an expert opinion letter for an L-1A file? Send us the org chart and job description and we will match a reviewer.
Speak With Our TeamWhy It Appeals
Benefits of the L-1A Visa
No Annual Cap or Lottery
Petitions are filed when the business needs them, with no numerical limit and no March registration season.
No Degree Requirement
Eligibility turns on the corporate relationship and the role, not on holding a particular qualification.
A Direct EB-1C Green Card Route
Multinational managers and executives may pursue EB-1C permanent residence on closely related evidence, with no labor certification.
Your Spouse Can Work
L-2 spouses are employment authorized incident to status, and children under 21 may accompany you.
Up to Seven Years
Three years initially, extendable to seven in total. New office petitions begin with a one-year grant.
Ready to find out where you stand?
A free consultation includes a personalized eligibility review and a documentation checklist.
Schedule ConsultationSide by Side
L-1A vs L-1B: Which Transfer Category Fits?
Same corporate relationship, same year-abroad requirement. What differs is the role — and what the role unlocks.
| Comparison Point | L-1A | L-1B |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying role | Executive or managerial capacity | Specialized knowledge of the organization’s products, systems or procedures |
| Maximum stay | Up to 7 years in total | Up to 5 years in total |
| Green card route | EB-1C is available to multinational managers and executives | No direct equivalent; typically a labor certification based route |
| Third-party worksites | No category-specific restriction | Restricted where the employee would be controlled by another employer |
| New office start | One-year initial grant, then an extension review | One-year initial grant, then an extension review |
Comparing against a capped route or another green card path? See our H1B page, O-1A page and EB1A page.
Answers
L-1A Frequently Asked Questions
What is the L-1A visa?
The L-1A is a temporary work visa allowing a multinational organization to transfer an executive or manager from a qualifying foreign office to a related U.S. office, or to send one to establish a new U.S. office. There is no annual cap and no degree requirement.
What counts as a qualifying relationship?
The U.S. and foreign entities must be related as parent and subsidiary, branch, or affiliate, with common ownership and control. The relationship has to be documented through incorporation records, share registers and ownership charts — a shared brand or a commercial partnership is not enough.
How long must I have worked abroad?
At least one continuous year with the qualifying organization outside the United States, within the three years immediately preceding the petition. The year must be full time, and periods spent working inside the United States generally do not count toward it.
What is managerial or executive capacity?
Managerial capacity means directing the organization, a department or an essential function, with authority over personnel actions and discretion over operations. Executive capacity means directing management, setting goals and policy, and operating under only general supervision. Both are judged on actual duties, not job titles.
Can I open a new U.S. office on an L-1A?
Yes. New office petitions are approved for an initial one year. You will need evidence that sufficient physical premises have been secured and that the enterprise can support an executive or managerial role within that year. The extension filing then turns on what the office actually achieved.
How long can I stay on an L-1A visa?
Up to three years initially, or one year for a new office, with extensions available to a maximum of seven years in total. Time spent outside the United States may be recaptured in some circumstances, and periods in other status can affect the calculation.
Can my spouse work on an L-2 visa?
Yes. L-2 spouses are employment authorized incident to their status, meaning work authorization flows from the status itself. Unmarried children under 21 may also accompany you on L-2, though they are not work authorized.
Does the L-1A lead to a green card?
It can. Multinational managers and executives may pursue the EB-1C first-preference green card, which uses closely related evidence and does not require labor certification. This is one of the main strategic reasons companies choose L-1A over other transfer options.
Is there a cap or lottery for the L-1A?
No. The L-1A is not subject to a numerical cap and there is no lottery, so petitions can be filed whenever the business needs them, without waiting for a registration season or a random selection.
How can NAIS assist with my L-1A application?
We provide petition documentation assistance for both sides of the file: corporate evidence for the U.S. and foreign entities, role documentation that demonstrates managerial or executive capacity, new office planning records, expert opinion letters from our in-house panel of 350+ professors and industry experts, and filing support. We are a documentation services provider, not a law firm, and we do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
Important Notice
Compliance Disclaimer
New York Immigration Services (NAIS) provides immigration documentation preparation and administrative support services. We are not a law firm, attorney, or legal representative, and we do not provide legal advice or legal representation. Any legal services, where applicable, are handled independently by licensed legal professionals.