How long must an employee have worked abroad to qualify for the L-1A?

The employee must have worked for the qualifying foreign entity for at least one continuous year within the three years immediately preceding the petition. The qualifying employment abroad must have been in an executive or managerial capacity on a full-time basis.

Can an L-1A employee work at multiple U.S. locations?

Yes. An L-1A employee may work at multiple U.S. locations, provided all locations fall within the scope of the approved petition and the role remains genuinely executive or managerial across all locations.

Can an L-1A visa be extended beyond seven years?

The L-1A has a maximum stay of seven years, including any time spent in L-1B status. Extensions beyond seven years are generally not available, but time spent outside the United States may be recaptured and does not count toward the seven-year limit. Many L-1A holders transition to EB-1C green card status before reaching the seven-year cap.

Can the L-1A lead to a green card?

Yes. The L-1A is one of the strongest pathways to the EB-1C employment-based green card, which is reserved for multinational executives and managers. Because the eligibility criteria for the EB-1C closely mirror those for the L-1A, and no PERM labor certification is required, the transition can be significantly faster than other employment-based green card routes.

Can small companies qualify for the L-1A?

Yes. There is no minimum company size for the L-1A. However, smaller organisations face closer scrutiny from USCIS, as the petition must convincingly demonstrate that the role is genuinely executive or managerial and that the employee is not primarily performing operational or non-qualifying duties.

What happens if the employee previously held L-1B status?

Time spent in L-1B status counts toward the overall seven-year maximum applicable to L-1A holders. If an employee transitions from L-1B to L-1A, the combined total time in both statuses cannot exceed seven years without departure and a fresh qualifying period abroad.

What is the difference between an executive and a manager for L-1A purposes?

For L-1A purposes, an executive primarily directs the management of the organisation or a major component of it, establishes goals and policies, exercises wide latitude in discretionary decision-making, and receives only general supervision from higher-level executives or a board. A manager primarily supervises and controls the work of professional employees or manages an essential function of the organisation, has authority to hire and fire or recommend such decisions, and exercises discretion over day-to-day operations.

Can spouses of L-1A visa holders work in the U.S.?

Yes. Spouses of L-1A visa holders are admitted in L-2 status and are eligible to apply for U.S. work authorisation, allowing them to work for any employer in the United States. Children under 21 may accompany the principal applicant and attend school but are not eligible to work.

Does the company need to be large to sponsor an L-1A?

No. The L-1A is available to companies of all sizes, from startups to multinational corporations. The critical factor is not the size of the company but whether the role genuinely meets the executive or managerial capacity definition and whether the corporate relationship between the foreign and U.S. entities qualifies.

How long does L-1A processing take?

Standard USCIS processing times vary but premium processing is available for the L-1A, guaranteeing a decision within 15 business days. We recommend using premium processing where possible to reduce uncertainty and allow for timely planning of the employee's relocation.

L‑1A

Visa for Executives & Managers

Check Your L-1A Eligibility — Free

The L‑1A visa allows multinational companies to transfer executives and managers to their U.S. operations. With no annual cap, no lottery, and a direct path to the EB‑1C green card, the L‑1A is one of the most powerful business immigration options available.
If your organization needs to relocate leadership, launch a new office, or strengthen U.S. operations, the L‑1A visa provides a fast, business‑friendly solution.
To qualify, the employee must:
- Have worked full‑time for at least one continuous year within the past three years for a qualifying foreign entity
- Be coming to the U.S. to serve in an executive or managerial capacity
- Work for a company that has a qualifying corporate relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities (parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch)
An executive primarily:
- Directs the management of the organization or a major component
- Establishes goals and policies
- Exercises wide latitude in decision‑making
- Receives only general supervision from higher‑level executives or the board
Personnel Manager
Responsible for:
- Supervising and controlling the work of professional employees
- Hiring, firing, and performance decisions
- Managing a department, subdivision, or function
Functional Manager
Responsible for:
- Managing an essential function within the organization
- Exercising authority over the function even without direct staff supervision
- Demonstrating senior‑level responsibility and discretion
Functional managers are often the most misunderstood category — but they are fully eligible when properly documented.
- Initial stay: up to 3 years
- Extensions: available in 2‑year increments
- Maximum stay: 7 years total
Companies expanding into the U.S. may use the L‑1A visa to send an executive or manager to open a new office.
Requirements include:
- Secured physical premises
- A realistic business plan
- Evidence of ability to support executive/managerial duties within one year
- Organizational charts and staffing projections
New office L‑1A petitions are reviewed closely, but they are one of the fastest ways to establish a U.S. presence.
The L‑1A visa provides a direct route to the EB‑1C green card for multinational managers and executives.
Benefits include:
- No PERM labor certification
- Faster processing compared to other employment‑based categories
- Eligibility based on similar criteria as the L‑1A
This makes the L‑1A one of the most strategic options for long‑term U.S. immigration planning.
Strong L‑1A petitions typically include:
- Detailed organizational charts (foreign & U.S.)
- Job descriptions showing executive/managerial duties
- Proof of discretionary authority
- Business plans, financials, and operational summaries
- Proof of qualifying corporate relationship
- Payroll records, tax documents, or employment verification
- For new offices: staffing plans, lease agreements, and growth projectionsItem description
- No annual quota or lottery
- Supports leadership mobility
- Ideal for global expansion
- Enables new office launches
- Direct path to EB‑1C permanent residency
- Allows spouses to obtain work authorization

U.S. Immigration Pathway for Intracompany Transfers

We regularly assist multinational companies of all sizes with intracompany transfer petitions for executives and managers relocating to U.S. offices — all handled remotely, in your time zone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

At least one continuous year within the past three years, in a full‑time executive or managerial role.
Yes — as long as the employee continues performing executive or managerial duties for the petitioning employer.
Technically no; however, it may be possible to add additional time to the 7 years.
For example, it is typically possible to ‘recapture time’, e.g. every full day spent outside of the U.S. during the 7 years can be added to one’s L-1 status.
Yes — the L‑1A is the fastest non‑PERM route to permanent residency through the EB‑1C category.
Yes — but they must show that the U.S. role is truly executive or managerial. Small teams can still support a functional manager.

Time spent in L‑1B counts toward the 7‑year maximum, but the employee may still transition to L‑1A if they meet the criteria.
Executives direct the organization or major components. Managers supervise personnel or manage essential functions. Both categories qualify.
Yes. L‑2 spouses are eligible for work authorization and may work for any employer.
No. Both large and small companies qualify as long as they can document the executive/managerial nature of the role.
Processing times vary, but premium processing is available for faster adjudication.

L‑1B Specialized Knowledge Visa L‑1 Blanket Petition E‑1 Treaty Trader Visa E‑2 Treaty Investor Visa E‑3 Visa for Australians O‑1A Extraordinary Ability Visa O‑1B Extraordinary Achievement Visa O‑2 Essential Support Personnel

Considering other U.S. visa options?

Our firm supports professionals, founders, executives, artists, and specialized talent across multiple visa categories. Explore the full range of pathways available and compare which option best aligns with your goals, background, and long‑term plans in the United States.

Your L-1A Visa Attorney

Lauren Lantz | U.S. Immigration Attorney

— 20 years of U.S. immigration experience

— Former Senior Associate, where she spent 13 years at the world’s largest immigration law firm

— Licensed in Georgia since 2007

— American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Member

— Co-author, "Theft, Drugs, Deception: Oh My!" — AILA VOICE cover story, 2011

— Practice experience in London, Sydney, and Washington D.C.

— Representing clients in the UK, Europe, Australia, and worldwide

— All consultations fully remote.

Learn More About lauren

Corporate transfers move fast. Lauren has handled L-1A matters across a wide range of industries and company structures — here is a sense of the ground she has covered.

Lauren has represented executives and senior managers transferred from parent companies in Europe, Australia, and beyond to U.S. subsidiaries and affiliates. Her L-1A clients have included CEOs, COOs, Managing Directors, and Regional Heads making the move as part of planned U.S. expansions, new office openings, and corporate restructuring. She understands the structural and documentary demands of these transfers — and the speed at which they typically need to move.

Need to transfer an executive or manager to your U.S. operations?

If your organization needs to transfer an executive or manager to the United States — or launch a new U.S. office — we can help you determine the strongest L‑1A strategy.

Tailored guidance for your company’s L‑1A eligibility and documentation needs.

Are you an executive or manager relocating to the U.S.?

We can help you document your leadership role and build a compelling L‑1A case.

By completing this form, you acknowledge that your information will be securely transferred to and processed in the United States by Lantz Johnson Law for the purpose of evaluating your inquiry. Submitting this form does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

L‑1A

Visa for Executives & Managers

What is the L-1A Visa?

Who Qualifies for the L‑1A Visa?

Executive Capacity

Managerial Capacity

L-1A Visa Validity Period

L-1A for New Office Launches

Pathway to Permanent Residency

Evidence USCIS Looks For

Why Companies Choose the L-1A Visa

U.S. Immigration Pathway for Intracompany Transfers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long must the employee have worked abroad to qualify?

Can an L‑1A employee work at multiple U.S. locations?

Can an L‑1A visa be extended beyond seven years?

Can the L‑1A lead to a green card?

Can small companies qualify for the L‑1A?

What happens if the employee previously held L‑1B status?

What is the difference between an executive and a manager?

Can spouses work in the U.S.?

Does the company need to be large?

How long does L‑1A processing take?

Considering other U.S. visa options?

Your L-1A Visa Attorney

Lauren Lantz | U.S. Immigration Attorney

Need to transfer an executive or manager to your U.S. operations?

Are you an executive or manager relocating to the U.S.?

Lantz Johnson Law