Immigration

Available to executives and managers of U.S. employers with at least one foreign office who want to transfer these executives or mangers to a U.S. office. The visa is also available to executives and managers of foreign employers who are being transferred to the U.S. for the purpose of establishing an office in the U.S.
The employer must have a qualifying relationship (parent company, branch, subsidiary or affiliate) with the foreign company; and must either be a current U.S. employer or will become one and be doing business in at least one other country for the duration of the executive or manager L-1 stay in the U.S.
The employee must have worked continuously for one year within the last three years for the foreign company. The employee must provide service in an executive or managerial capacity in the U.S. office. The initial visa will be granted for three years except for employees setting up new businesses in the U.S. who receive an initial visa for a period of one year. Extensions are allowed in two-year increments up to a maximum of seven years.

Available to some companies doing business in the U.S. for more than one years, with three or more branches, sales of at least $25 million or 1000 employees in the U.S., and have had 10 L-1 petitions approved in the last 12 months.
Canadians (exempt from the L-1 visa requirement) may present a completed I-129S to the Custom & Border Protection officer at the border or to the CBP officer during pre-flight inspection.

Spouses and unmarried children (under 21years of age) receive L-2 visas. Spouses are eligible to apply for employment authorization.

Available to employees with specialized knowledge whose U.S. employers with at least one foreign office want to transfer them to their U.S. offices. The visa is also available to employees with specialized knowledge of foreign employers who would like to establish an office in the U.S.
The employer must have a qualifying relationship (parent company, branch, subsidiary or affiliate) with the foreign company; and must either be a current U.S. employer or will become one and be doing business in at least one other country for the duration of the specialized knowledge employee L-1 stay in the U.S.
The employee must have worked continuously for one year within the last three years for the foreign company. The employee must provide service in a specialized knowledge capacity in the U.S. office. The initial visa will be granted for three years except for employees setting up new businesses in the U.S. who receive an initial visa for a period of one year. Extensions are allowed in two-year increments up to a maximum of five years.

Available to some companies doing business in the U.S. for more than one years, with three or more branches, sales of at least $25 million or 1000 employees in the U.S., and have had 10 L-1 petitions approved in the last 12 months. To qualify under the blanket, employees with specialized knowledge must also be professionals.

Canadians (exempt from the L-1 visa requirement) may present a completed I-129S to the Custom & Border Protection (CBP) officer at the border or to the CBP officer during pre-flight inspection.

Spouses and unmarried children (under 21years of age) receive L-2 visas. Spouses are eligible to apply for employment authorization.