Florida Board Certified in Immigration & Nationality Law (Florida Bar Member #7439). When a multinational company moves an executive, manager, or specialized-knowledge employee to a U.S. office, the L-1 visa is the path. We handle L-1A, L-1B, blanket L-1 programs, and the increasingly important new-office L-1 for companies expanding into the United States.
L-1 fundamentals
L-1 requires three core things:
- Qualifying corporate relationship between the foreign and U.S. entity — parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.
- One year of qualifying employment abroad within the past 3 years in an executive, managerial, or specialized-knowledge role.
- Same role abroad and in the U.S. — executive abroad becomes executive here; specialized knowledge stays specialized knowledge.
L-1A — Executive or Manager
For senior leadership: directing the management of an organization or major function, exercising wide latitude, supervising subordinate staff or function. Executives and managers must oversee a function or organization, not just perform tasks.
L-1A is granted for an initial 3 years, extendable to a maximum of 7 years. L-1A executives can self-sponsor for an EB-1C green card, often without PERM.
L-1B — Specialized Knowledge
For employees with knowledge of the company's products, services, research, equipment, techniques, or management — knowledge that is specialized and proprietary. The bar is meaningful: ordinary professional skill is not enough.
L-1B is granted for an initial 3 years, extendable to a maximum of 5 years.
New-office L-1
When the U.S. entity has been operating less than 1 year, the L-1 falls into the "new office" category. Initial approval is 1 year (not 3), and the petition must include:
- A detailed business plan with hiring projections.
- Evidence the company has secured premises and capital.
- Organizational charts showing how the role fits.
- Strong evidence the U.S. operation will become "doing business" — providing goods or services in a regular, systematic, and continuous way — within the first year.
At the 1-year extension, the U.S. company must show it has actually achieved the projections.
Blanket L-1
Large multinationals (3+ U.S. branches, certain volume thresholds) can obtain a blanket L-1 approval that lets individual employees apply for L-1 visas directly at consulates without filing separate I-129 petitions. This dramatically speeds up routine transfers but is not available to smaller companies.
L-2 spouse work authorization
L-2 spouses are now eligible for employment authorization incident to status (no separate EAD required for many) thanks to recent USCIS policy. This is one of the biggest practical advantages of L-1 over many other employment categories.
Talk to a Florida Board Certified Immigration Attorney
Free 30-minute consultation. No obligation. Confidential. Available in English or Spanish. Serving all of Central Florida from our Orlando office since 1996.
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Learn more →Frequently Asked — L-1A · L-1B · New Office · L-2
My company is opening a U.S. office. Can I come on L-1?
Yes, via "new office" L-1. The first approval is for 1 year (not the standard 3) and requires substantial documentation: detailed business plan, hiring projections, secured premises, capital evidence, organizational structure. At extension, the U.S. company must show it has actually scaled and is "doing business" in a regular and systematic way.
What counts as "specialized knowledge" for L-1B?
Specialized knowledge is more than typical professional or technical skill. It must be knowledge of the company's specific products, services, research, equipment, processes, procedures, or management — knowledge gained through significant time at the qualifying foreign employer. USCIS has tightened L-1B adjudication; we build the case with detailed declarations, training records, and product-specific expertise.
Can I get a green card while on L-1?
Yes — L-1 is dual intent. L-1A executives have a particularly favorable path via EB-1C (multinational manager/executive), which does not require PERM. L-1B employees typically pursue EB-2 PERM, EB-2 NIW, or EB-3.
My spouse wants to work — does L-2 allow that?
Yes. L-2 spouses are eligible for employment authorization incident to status; for many L-2 spouses, the work authorization document is the I-94 itself, no separate EAD required. This is a major advantage compared with H-4 dependents.
How do I schedule a consultation?
Send the form below, call the office, or email us, and we will get back to you. The first consultation is free, and we can hold it in English or Spanish. Bring any notices you have already received from USCIS or the immigration court, since those set the deadlines that matter most.
