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| The L1 visa is for executives or employees
with specialized skills of multinational companies who are
being transferred from an office overseas to a US office. A
manager or executive to open a new office in the US may also
use the visa. The L1 visa is initially valid for three years
and can be extended to a total stay of five years. There is no
prevailing wage requirement for the L1 visa. |
| Although the L1 visa was designed for large
multinational corporations, smaller companies may also use
it. |
| A petitioner which meets the following
requirements may file a blanket petition seeking continuing
approval of itself and some or all of its parent, branches,
subsidiaries, and affiliates as qualifying organizations
if: |
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The petitioner and each of those
entities are engaged in commercial trade or services;
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The petitioner has an office in the United States
that has been doing business for one year or more;
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The petitioner has three or more domestic and
foreign branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates; and
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The petitioner and the other qualifying
organizations have obtained approval of petitions for at
least ten "L" managers, executives, or specialized
knowledge professionals during the previous 12 months;
or have U.S. subsidiaries or affiliates with combined
annual sales of at least $25 million; or have a United
States work force of at least 1,000 employees.
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| Spouses and children of the L1 visa holder may
obtain an L2 visa to enter and remain in the US. L2 Spouses
may apply for a work permit. L2 spouses and children may
attend school in the US. |
| For whom is a L1 Visa
appropriate? |
| Foreign nationals with specialized knowledge
or managers being transferred to the U.S. to supervise work of
other supervisory, professional or managerial employees, or
who manages an essential function, department or
subdivision |
| What are the requirements for
obtaining an L1 Visa? |
| An alien who within the preceding three years
has been employed abroad for one continuous year by a
qualifying organization may be admitted temporarily to the
United States to be employed by a parent, branch, affiliate,
or subsidiary of that employer in a managerial or executive
capacity, or in a position requiring specialized
knowledge. |
| L2 Visa |
| An L1 visa holder’s spouse and minor children
may obtain an L2 visa. An L2 visa holder may remain in the US
as long as the L-1 visa holder remains in legal status. An L2
visa holder may change his or her status in the US. |
| Employment - An L2 visa
holder may apply for a work permit. |
| Study - An L2 visa holder may
engage in full or part time study. |
| For whom is a L2 Visa
appropriate? |
| Spouse and children of L1 visa holders who
wish to visit or accompany the L1 visa holder to the United
States. |
| What are the requirements for
obtaining an L2 Visa? |
| The spouse and unmarried minor children of the
beneficiary are entitled to L nonimmigrant classification,
subject to the same period of admission and limits as the
beneficiary, if the spouse and unmarried minor children are
accompanying or following to join the beneficiary in the
United States. Neither the spouse nor any child may accept
employment unless he or she has been granted employment
authorization. |
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