Many people assume that if you are being transferred to a United States office of a foreign company, there is no real requirement for a visa. However, the truth is just the opposite. Even if you are being transferred to the United States by your employer, you require a visa. In this situation, when a business is expanding to the United States, the visa is the L1 visa. 
This visa is a visa that is meant for international transfer of employees and the expansion of business, and there are many criteria that must be met to be eligible for one.
Am I eligible for an L1 visa for the United States?
Employees who apply for an L1 visa must be a manager, specialized knowledge employee, or executive of the foreign company in question. They cannot be a new employee, and will have to have worked at the company for at least one year within the last three years, full time.
After the transfer, the foreign company must remain in business actively outside of the United States – the business is not moving to the United States, only expanding into the United States.
The company must also be related to the United States company in a certain way, such as being a parent company, affiliate company, subsidiary company, joint venture partner or branch of the company.
Are you expanding your business to the United States, want to learn more about corporate immigration, or want assistance with your L1 visa application so that you know it is ready for processing immediately? We have been in business for over 15 years helping people from all over the world work in the United States. We can help you too. Give us a call at the number above or email us using the form on the right.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
