So to apply for the L1 visa, you will need to go through the following steps: Get a transfer offer. Filing Form I-129. Employer must pay the fees. File Form DS-160. Pay the L1 visa application fee. Schedule your L1 visa interview. Submit your L1 visa documents. Attend your interview. This is the obvious logical prerequisite.
Full Answer
How to apply for an L-1 visa?
In order to apply for an L-1 visa, the following steps will have to be adhered to: A petition will have to be filed with USCIS or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on Form I-129. Supporting documents proving that the company in the U.S.A and the foreign subsidiary, parent or branch meets the qualifying requirements.
Is there a quota for L-1A or L1b visas?
There are no quotas for L-1A or L-1B visas. There are time limits as to how long you may be on an L-1 visa (Initial L-1 is given for three years - one year for those who are sent to establish a new office. Visas are then extended at two-year increments, up to the maximum of five years for L-1B...
How long can I extend my L1a visa?
A new office L1 is given an initial period of 1 year. For L1A managers and executives, you are eligible to extend the L1 by showing that the US company supports a managerial/ executive position. To meet this requirement, the US company should have adequate staff to handle the day-to-day operations of the business.
How many H1B visas are being processed in India?
In the next 12 months, US Consulates in India plan to process about 300,000 appointments for H and L visa categories ( H1B, H4, L1, L2) Most of the dropbox slots for for H1B, H4, L1, and L2 Visas are not available for the summer.
Will the spouse of the L-1 visa holder be eligible to work in the States?
Yes, the spouse of an L-1 visa holder can work in the States using an L-2 visa.
Can children of the L-1 visa holder receive employment in the States?
No, children of the L-1 visa holder cannot receive paid employment.
What is the basis for denial of L-1 visa?
An L-1 visa can be denied if the officer believes that the company filing the L-1 petition is not qualified or if the company’s subsidiary, branch...
Is ‘Dual Intent’ allowed for L-1 visa holders?
Yes, dual intent is allowed for L-1 visa holders.
What are the circumstances under which the petitioner will have to pay additional $2,250 as fee?
The petitioner will have to pay an additional $2,250 as fee if- The company employs over 50 individuals in the U.S.A More than half the employees f...
What time does Skype work in India?
Skype: To use Skype to speak to a customer service representative Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., India Standard Time (IST), and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., IST, please add a new contact to your Skype account with the Skype name ustraveldocsindia.
How long does it take to get an appointment with the ER?
The approximate appointment wait time is 7 calendar days (as of November 5, 2015).
What form do I need to schedule an interview?
You will need to provide the receipt number that is printed on your approved Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, to schedule an interview.
How many copies of I-129 are there?
The complete I-129 (I-129S for Blanket Petition) and I-129L petition (3 copies)
Is visa processing unchanged?
All other visa processing procedures remain unchanged.
What is an L-1A visa?
The L-1A visa is for intracompany transferees who work in managerial or executive positions in a company that is located outside the United States.
What is L-1B nonimmigrant classification?
The L-1B nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States.
What is the classification of L-1A?
The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S.
How long do you have to work abroad to get into the US?
Generally have been working for a qualifying organization abroad for one continuous year within the three years immediately before your admission to the United States; and
What is an L1 visa?
The L1 visa is a great way for foreign workers to live and work in the United States. With an L1 visa, you can transfer from a foreign company to a related US company to work as a manager, executive, or specialized knowledge worker.
How long do you have to work for a foreign company to get a L1 visa?
The prospective L1 visa beneficiary must have worked continuously for the foreign company full-time for 1 year within the 3 years preceding the filing of the L1 visa petition.
What happens if I get approved for I-129?
Once the I-129 is approved, you are granted L1 status.
What documents do I need to file an I-129?
Along with the Form I-129, your immigration lawyer will include all supporting documents such as your job offer to work for the US company, company financial statements, and the other documents specified above.
Can a nonimmigrant change status?
Certain nonimmigrant classifications are ineligible for a change of status such as the ESTA and the K1 visa.
Where to apply for L1 visa?
If you are not doing a Change of Status, then you will likely be applying for your L1 visa at the Consulate of your home country.
What is an L1 visa?
The L1 visa is a dual-intent visa, meaning that you may have the intent to temporarily remain in the United States while simultaneously having the intent to possibly immigrate to the United States and become a lawful permanent resident in the future. iv. No Set Wage Requirements.
How long is a L1A visa valid?
The L1A visa for managers and executives is initially valid for a period of 3 years and can be extended for a total of 7 years.
How many hours a week do you have to work to get an L1?
The entire year of qualifying employment should be satisfied by the time the L1 application is filed. The employment must be full-time (at least 35 hours a week). There is 1 exception to the full-time requirement in certain circumstances where the L1 beneficiary worked for multiple affiliated companies. iii.
What do you need to work for a foreign company to get an L1 visa?
To qualify for an L1 visa, you must have worked for the foreign company in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity.
How long do you have to be employed in the US to file a L1?
The employee coming to work in the US must have been continuously employed full-time by the foreign company for at least 1 year within the last 3 years before filing the L1 petition. The employment with the foreign company must have been in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity.
How many L1 visas can you get?
There is no annual limit to the number of L1 visas that can be issued.
How long is a visa application valid for?
There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid. The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law.
What determines what type of visa is required?
The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
When did Biden suspend travel to India?
On April 30, President Biden signed Presidential Proclamation 10199 suspending most nonimmigrant travel from India. In light of the travel suspension and due to the current pandemic situation in India, most other routine nonimmigrant visa and VAC appointments at U.S. Embassy New Delhi and the consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, ...
Is there a drop box for visa renewal in India?
Drop Box Appointments: Consular sections across India are now accepting a limited number of drop box applications for renewals of H, L, C1/D, O, I, F, M, and J visas at our Visa Application Centers. Please visit our website to determine whether you are eligible for drop box processing and schedule an appointment for document drop-off. A list of drop-off locations is available on our website.
How much does it cost to get an L1 visa?
The standard L1 visa application fees are (as at time of writing): 1 Standard fee for filing an L1 petition is $460 2 Obligatory anti-fraud fee of $500 3 An additional fee of $4500 if the organization employs 50 or more workers in the US and half of its staff are working on an L1 visa status. 4 ACWIA Training and Education Fee: $750 for employers with a workforce of 25 or fewer. $1,500 for employers with a workforce of 26 or more. 5 DS-160 application fee (for consular processing only): $190 6 Premium processing fee of $2500
How long is a L1 visa good for?
The L1 visa is temporary. It will initially be granted for a maximum of 3 years. To remain it the US beyond this point would require a further petition to be made, where the same processing time will apply as with the initial application. Alternatively, premium processing offers faster adjudication.
What determines the processing time of a consular application?
It is the caseload of the consular post that will largely determine the processing time, as well as the quality of the submission and supporting documents.
How long does it take to get an I-129 premium?
The L1 premium processing service is available for a fee where an expedited decision is needed. This official USCIS service reduces the six-month processing time of the initial I-129 petition to just 15 days. The fee for this service is $2500 and the employer must file a Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, along with their Form I-129. The USCIS is obligated to process the application in the 15 calendar days or the fee will be refunded.
How long does it take to file an I-129?
First, the employer files form I-129 with USCIS on behalf of the employee. This should be filed at least 45 days before the commencement of US employment and must not be filed more than six months before employment begins. The time this takes to process depends on the service centre that manages it.
Is there an annual limit on L1 visas?
The L1 visa offers many benefits to employers. It is not subject to an annual limit on the number of visas that can be issue d this category, unlike the H-1B, and does not carry with it any educational requirements of the worker.
Can I file an I-485 form if I am an L1?
Once the I-140 petition is approved, the priority date will be current and the applicant will be able to submit an I-485 form to have their status adjusted from nonimmigrant L1 status to lawful permanent residency under a green card.
What is an L-1 visa?
The L-1 is a nonimmigrant visa that allows multinational companies to send managers, executives, and employees with specialized knowledge to an office or affiliate in the U.S. It comes with a host of benefits such as dual intent, no annual limit, and no educational requirements. On top of that, an employer can file an L-1 blanket petition for multiple employees at once rather than file each one individually. It also allows these workers to travel to the U.S. to establish a new office or branch in the country.
How long do you have to work to get a L-1 visa?
In fact, the only major requirement is that the beneficiary needs to have worked for the company for at least one full year in the three years that precede the petition filing. However, despite all of these benefits, the L-1 is not the easiest work visa to obtain. This is because the USCIS is becoming stricter with who qualifies as a manager, executive, or employee with specialized knowledge.
What is a business plan for L-1 visa?
As an L-1 visa sponsoring employer, your business plan is one of the things the USCIS will scrutinize to make a decision on the petition. This is why it is recommended to have a flawless L-1 business plan. That said, having a plan won’t just be enough, the details in the plan must correspond with the present reality of the business. For instance, if there are exaggerated business growth projections that do not reflect the standards in your industry, this may stand as a red flag.
What to do if you get denied a L-1 visa?
under that same company. Always be sure to work very closely with a qualified immigration attorney after an L-1 denial in order to determine your options and to ensure that you are making the correct legal decisions.
What happens if you don't include supporting evidence in your L-1 application?
If you fail to include an important document or give incorrect information at any stage of your visa application, that may lead to your L-1 visa denial. Some errors you will need to carefully avoid include entering an incorrect job title or job descriptions, using an inappropriate delivery method, or sending your visa application to the wrong address.
What is the difference between an O-1 and an L-1 visa?
Compared to another highly beneficial visa, the O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa, the L-1 visa has fewer requirements. While the O-1 category has a longer list and more stringent eligibility requirements, the L-1 only requires you to demonstrate specialized knowledge or be a manager or executive of a multinational company.
Why are L-1 visas denied?
The assessment standards for the U.S. work visa requirements are being raised to ensure that resident workers are favored over foreign job applicants.
What is an L1 visa?
The L1 visa is an intra-company transfer work visa that allows a U.S. company to transfer executives, managers and specialized employees from one of its offices abroad into the United States. The petitioning company can be a corporation, charity (or other nonprofit organization), or a religious organization. Different types of qualifying organizations may also be permitted.
How long can you stay on an L-1 visa?
There are no quotas for L-1A or L-1B visas. There are time limits as to how long you may be on an L-1 visa (Initial L-1 is given for three years - one year for those who are sent to establish a new office. Visas are then extended at two-year increments, up to the maximum of five years for L-1B and seven years for L-1A).
How long does it take to get a USCIS visa?
The application with the USCIS can either be via the normal route or via premium processing (for an additional fee of $1,225). Handling without premium processing should roughly take 5-7 months (depending on whether you file with the California Service Center or the Vermont Service Center), premium processing should cut it down to around 1 month .
What is considered in a L1 petition?
In reviewing L1 petitions, USCIS takes into consideration such crucial elements as the relationship between companies, the size of the company, the job level of the transferring employee and the number of employees. Unless the L1 employer is already well-known (e.g. Coca-Cola), it is often necessary to provide in-depth documentation about the company to meet standards and requirements.
How long does it take to get a visa for a new job?
to file the visa through the company you are working it may take a week to a month based on how efficient your attorney and company is to pr
What does L1-A mean?
L1-A: International executives or managers, who are transferring to a U.S. office to operate in that capacity.
Is L1 visa subject to quota?
L1 visas are not subject to any quota unlike H1b. If you are eligible, then every chance is that you will get it. Eligibility does not mean selected by your office, it should pass the test of USCIS , like anti job-shopping provisions etc,
Establishing New Offices
L-1A Classification
- The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one. Your e…
to Qualify, You Must
- Generally have been working for a qualifying organization abroad for one continuous year within the three years immediately before your admission to the United States; and
- Be seeking to enter the United States to provide service in an executive or managerial capacity for a branch of the same employer or one of its qualifying organizations.
L-1B Classification
- The L-1B nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send a specialized knowledge employee to th…