L-1 Visa: Intracompany Transfer
Transfer managers, executives, or specialized knowledge workers from a foreign office to the US. No annual cap, no lottery. The L-1A to EB-1C pathway is one of the fastest corporate green card routes -- no PERM labor certification required.
L-1A vs. L-1B Comparison
| Feature | L-1A | L-1B |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Managers or executives overseeing operations/teams | Employees with specialized knowledge of company products/services |
| Initial validity (new office) | 1 year | 1 year |
| Initial validity (existing office) | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 years |
| Maximum stay | 7 years | 5 years |
| Green card path | EB-1C (no PERM required) | EB-2/EB-3 (PERM required) |
| Green card timeline | 8โ18 months | 18โ48 months |
Requirements
1Qualifying relationship between foreign and US company (parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch)
2Beneficiary must have worked for the foreign company continuously, full-time, for at least 1 year in the preceding 3 years
3Employment must be in a managerial, executive (L-1A), or specialized knowledge (L-1B) capacity
Blanket vs. Individual Petitions
Individual Petition
I-129 filed with USCIS. Best for one-off transfers.
Blanket Petition
Employees apply directly at US consulate. Requires: 10+ L-1 approvals in last 12 months, OR $25M+ combined US annual sales, OR 1,000+ US employees. Cost ~$4,500 but streamlined for multiple employees.
EB-1C Green Card Path
No PERM labor certification required (saves 12โ18 months vs. EB-2/EB-3)
US company must be operational for at least 1 year before petitioning
Both foreign and US roles must be in managerial/executive capacity
No annual cap on EB-1C petitions (but subject to per-country visa availability)
Timeline: approximately 8โ18 months from filing to green card
Fees & Costs (2026)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base I-129 filing fee | $780 ($460 small employer) |
| Fraud Prevention fee | $500 |
| Premium processing (optional) | $2,965 |
| Blanket petition MRV fee (at consulate) | $205 |
| Attorney fees | $8,000 โ $15,000 |
| Total range | $10,000 โ $15,000+ |