What is a blanket L1 visa petition?
L1 Blanket Visa Petition. A blanket L1 visa petition is a single petition under which the USCIS qualifies companies to transfer a certain number of executives and managers to the US on L1 visas, eliminating the need to file separate L1 individuals visa petitions for each employee. Once the L1 blanket petition has been approved,...
Can L1 blanket visa transfer multiple employees together?
L1 Blanket Visa is applicable to transfer multiple employees together. An L1 blanket visa petition can be applied for multiple individuals at a time. With an L1 individual visa, the company or employer must file a petition with USCIS every time there is a requirement to transfer an employee.
What is an L1 visa?
1. What is L-1 visa? The L-1 work visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign nationals being transferred by their current employer to enter into the U.S. to manage an organization or a major function or division of an organization, or work for an affiliated company as a specialized knowledge employee. 2. What is L1 Blanket petition?
What is an L1 Blanket Company?
A. U.S. companies that are branches, parents, subsidiaries or affiliates of foreign companies that frequently transfer their non-U.S. employees to their related U.S. companies B. Your company may qualify for an L1 Blanket if it meets one or more of the following requirements: 1. U.S. company with at least 1,000 employees 2.
What is difference between L-1 and L-1 blanket?
L1 Individual Visa is applicable to transfer a single individual. L1 visa petition can be applied for each individual separately. L1 Blanket Visa is applicable to transfer multiple employees together. An L1 blanket visa petition can be applied for multiple individuals at a time.
How long does it take to get L-1 blanket visa?
Standard L-1 visa processing usually takes between 6 to 12 months. This includes processing of the I-129 petition, which can take up to six months, and consulate processing which can be expected to take up to six months or longer. If the employer is applying under a Blanket L, processing can be reduced to 1-3 weeks.
What is a blanket L-1 a petition?
A blanket L-1 petition allows employees of multinational companies who are executives, managers, and specialized knowledge professionals to apply for L-1 status directly at a U.S. consulate, without having to obtain preapproval from USCIS.
What is non blanket L-1 visa?
1. What is L-1 visa? The L-1 work visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign nationals being transferred by their current employer to enter into the U.S. to manage an organization or a major function or division of an organization, or work for an affiliated company as a specialized knowledge employee.
Who is eligible for L-1 blanket petition?
To be eligible for the L1 Visa, the person applying has to fulfill the following criteria: Have employment in another country that is not the US for at least one year in the past three years. Have specialized knowledge, or have a managerial or executive position.
Is L1A or H1B better?
H1B has stringent requirements while L1 Visa is more suitable for multinationals and is less time consuming than H1B visas. Also, L-1 and H-1B have ˜dual intent in that visa holders in both categories can aim for green card while staying as a nonimmigrant in the United States.
How does L-1 blanket visa work?
A blanket L1 visa petition is a single petition under which the USCIS qualifies companies to transfer a certain number of executives and managers to the US on L1 visas, eliminating the need to file separate L1 individuals visa petitions for each employee.
How does L-1 blanket work?
What is the L-1 Blanket Petition? An L-1 blanket visa petition is a single petition through which certain foreign companies may pre-qualify to transfer their eligible employees into the United States on L-1 visas in groups, thereby eliminating the need to file separate individual visa petitions for each employee.
How do I get an L-1 blanket visa?
To file for an L-1 blanket visa extension for an employee, the organization must file a new I-129S on behalf of the alien employee. The petitioner may also file the extension of stay for an individual employee L-1 and the L-1 blanket visa extension concurrently.
When can L1A get green card?
If you are in the US on an L1 visa then you must apply within 2 years of entry to qualify for an EB1C Green Card. The requirements for employment based immigration (permanent residence) under the EB1C immigrant scheme are similar to the requirements for the L1A Executive and Manager visa category.
How long L1A can stay in USA?
seven yearsPeriod of Stay For the L-1A visa, holders will be granted an initial three years of stay in the U.S. They can then extend their stay to a maximum of seven years, this surpasses the H-1B's maximum of six years and the J-1's maximum of five years.
How long is L1A visa valid?
An L-1 visa extension can be granted in two-year increments at a time up to the maximum duration for each visa category. The L-1A visa for managers and executives has a maximum period of stay of seven years while the L-1B visa for workers with specialized knowledge has one for five years.
What is L-1A nonimmigrant?
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 that does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with ...
How to apply for work authorization for L-1 spouse?
Spouses of L-1 workers may apply for work authorization by filing a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with fee. If approved, there is no specific restriction as to where the L-2 spouse may work.
Can an L-1 be an employer?
Currently be, or will be, doing business as an employer in the United States and in at least one other country directly or through a qualifying organization for the duration of the beneficiary’s stay in the United States as an L-1. While the business must be viable, there is no requirement that it be engaged in international trade.
Can I send a blanket petition to an employer?
In most cases, once the blanket petition has been approved, the employer need only complete Form , I-129S,Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, and send it to the employee along with a copy of the blanket petition Approval Notice and other required evidence, so that the employee may present it to a consular officer in connection with an application for an L-1 visa.
What is an L-1 Visa Blanket Petition?
It is a single visa petition that eliminates the need to file separate L-1 petitions for each of the qualified employees. Once the L-1 visa blanket petition is approved, each transferring employee may file a petition for an L-1 visa directly at the United States embassy or consulate.
What is the L-1 Blanket Visa Validity Period?
An L-1 blanket petition is granted with an initial validity period of three years with an option to extend the visa if necessary. Requests for an extension of stay may be granted for up to an additional two years until the alien employee has reached the maximum limit of seven years for the L-1A or five years for the L-1B.
What is the L-1 Visa?
The L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa is a nonimmigrant employment-based classification which allows U.S-based employers to transfer a foreign professional employee from related foreign offices to the United States.
What is a L-1 petition?
The L-1 blanket petition has certain requirements that must be met by a U.S.-based petitioner (organization) and its foreign entities. An organization may be eligible for the blanket petition if: The petitioner and each of the qualifying entities are engaged in commercial trade or services. The U.S.-based petitioner has an office which has been ...
How to get a green card for an alien worker?
To do this, you will need to go through the process for the employment-based green card application. This will require your employer to obtain a Permanent Labor Certification (PERM). Your employer will also need to file an I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, on your behalf. After the I-140 is approved, you can file the I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
How long does it take to appeal a denied L-1 visa?
Appealing a denied petition may take several weeks or months.
What is required to transfer an L-1B visa?
For an L-1B, you must demonstrate that you hold a position requiring specialized knowledge in the organization. If you are applying for an L-1A visa, you must prove that you hold a managerial or executive position in the organization. The following USCIS definitions of executive capacity and managerial capacity must be met:
What is an L-1A visa?
An L-1A visa is a visa for non-immigrant foreign executives or managers who are being transferred to their company's U.S. offices.
What is the benefit of L-1 visa?
A multinational company will be highly benefitted by the L-1 visa program. The L -1 visa program lets a multinational company bring in employees from around the world when establishing an office. It allows for the movement of employees from office to office and country to country to make sure the employees understand how the different locations work.
Who Can Receive an L-1A?
To receive an L-1A visa, the employee must fit into either the role of executive or manager. The definitions of who is considered an executive and a manager are very strict. A manager and executive must plan, organize, direct, and control the major functions of a business and work through other employees to achieve the goals of the organization.
When Is an L-1A Not an Option?
An employee visiting the U.S. for a conference, to attend meetings, or participate in training isn't eligible for an L -1 visa. L-1 visas are for individuals involved in regular and systematic work with a company in the U.S.
How long do you have to work to get an L-1 visa?
It's also required that the employee has worked for that employer for at least one year in the last three years before they're eligible for an L-1 visa. The L-1 visa holder must work for the employer who petitioned for the L-1 visa the entire time they remain in the U.S. on L-1 visa status.
How long does an L-1 visa last?
If the L-1 is granted to an employee who will establish the company in the U.S., the visa will be for only one year.
What is the difference between L-1A and L-1B?
The major difference between an L-1A visa and an L-1B visa is that different types of employees are eligible for them. The L-1A is for executives and managers. The L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge.
What form do I need to apply for a blanket L1 visa?
The employers that have the L1 blanket position approved only need to complete Form I-129 S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, and send it abroad to the employee, along with a copy of the blanket petition approval notice ( Form I-797) and other required evidence so that he/she can present it to the consular officer to obtain an L-1 visa stamp in his/her passport .
What is the requirement for an employer to file a petition for L-1 visa?
Before filing a petition, an employer must make sure that it is not ineligible under Anti “Job-Shopping” Provisions of the L-1 Visa Reform Act .
How long is a L-1 petition valid?
L-1 blanket petition approval (indicated by Form I-797, Notice of Action) is valid for three years. The petitioner can seek an indefinite number of extensions. However, if the petition fails to apply for an extension of the L-1 blanket petition, or USCIS denies the extension, they may not file a new blanket petition for three years.
What should be included in a blanket petition?
The petition should include in the blanket petition all of its branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates which plan to seek transfer aliens to the U.S. under the blanket petition. Evidence that all entities for which approval is sought are qualifying organizations .
Can an L-1 petition be amended?
Once the initial L-1 blanket petition is approved, any of the qualifying organizations listed in the approved L-1 blanket petition may transfer employee (s). Any corporate entity not listed in the L-1 blanket petition may not transfer employee (s), but additional organizations can be added to the blanket petition by the filing of an amended blanket petition.
Can an employee get an L1 visa?
Consulate abroad, and no processing at USCIS is required for individual cases. However, there is no guarantee that all employees will be approved for an L1 visa.
Can a multinational company file a blanket L1 petition?
Certain employers, especially large multinational companies, are eligible to file a blanket L1 petition, provided they meet the certain criteria as described below. The petitioner must be a member of the company’s corporate family, but it does not need to be the parent nor the principal office.
What is an L-1 nonimmigrant visa?
L-1 nonimmigrant visa status is a great tool for multinational companies seeking to transfer executives, managers, and highly specialized employees from overseas offices to the U.S. The L-1 has come under heavy scrutiny in the past decade with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), leaving many U.S. employers frustrated, and seeking faster, more efficient option to get vital employees into the U.S. Before moving past the L-1, multinational companies with a substantial U.S. presence would do well to consider an L-1 blanket to speed up transfers.
How does a company apply for an L-1 visa?
Once a company has an approved L-1 blanket petition, it streamlines the individual employee’s process for obtaining an L-1 visa. The company can skip the filing of an individual L-1 petition with USCIS altogether. Instead, the employer applies directly at the U.S. consulate abroad. The employee takes to the U.S. consulate the L-1 petition demonstrating that the employee and the proposed U.S. job meet the requirements for L-1 status. The U.S. consulate does not need to consider the qualifying corporate relationship, but simply confirm that both the foreign and U.S. companies are listed on the addendum to the approved L-1 blanket petition for the company.
How does a L-1 petition work?
Instead of filing an individual L-1 petition, the company files an L-1 blanket petition with USCIS establishing all of the desired corporate relationships in its global organization . Every related company may be listed in this petition for inclusion in the blanket. The approval notice for an L-1 blanket petition is for the company, and not an individual. The approval attaches a list of all of the approved qualifying relationships. It is approved initially for three years, and can be extended for an indefinite period. The blanket only needs to be amended when there is a change in the related companies or their ownership relationships.
What is an L-1 interview?
The L-1 interview at the U.S. consulate is the only opportunity for the employee to make his/her case for the L-1 visa. Consular officers vary in interview technique and some consulates are more strict (e.g. China, India) than others. Accordingly, employees will need to be well prepared in advance – more prepared than if the L-1 was approved previously by USCIS.
How long does a blanket approval last?
The approval attaches a list of all of the approved qualifying relationships. It is approved initially for three years, and can be extended for an indefinite period. The blanket only needs to be amended when there is a change in the related companies or their ownership relationships.
How many employees can an L-1 have?
have a U.S. work force of at least 1,000 employees. An L-1 employee may transfer to the U.S. using a blanket much FASTER than under an individual L-1 petition and without the needless repetition of proving the same corporate relationships time and again.
Where does an employer apply for L-1?
Instead, the employer applies directly at the U.S. consulate abroad. The employee takes to the U.S. consulate the L-1 petition demonstrating that the employee and the proposed U.S. job meet the requirements for L-1 status. The U.S. consulate does not need to consider the qualifying corporate relationship, but simply confirm ...
What is an L1 visa?
1. L1 visa a.k.a an emergency/special visa as people call, it is a system within a system to beat the mundane year long wait for a H1 visa. 2. I have known a few colleagues who had devised "made-up" tools that they were apparently subject matter experts in, and cleared the L1 visa interviews.
What is a blanket visa?
L1 Blanket visa is issued for a company. After a company has obtained blanket L visa petition approval, individuals apply for L visa stamps at a United States Consulate abroad by presenting a signed I-129S petition and proof of qualifying employment. With a blanket visa it is not necessary to get USCIS approval for a particular individual, although the individual remains subject to immigration background checks.
How long do you have to stay on H1B to L1A?
For example, if you spend 2 years on L1A and found a new employer who sponsors H1B, upon approval of the visa you will have 4 more years left on H1B visa, before applying for 3 year extension. Same is the case if you change from H1B to L1.
How long can I stay in the US with a green card?
If the employer who filed your L1 visa is not willing to file Green Card for you, you will be out of options. The max duration on L1A visa is 7 years and L1B visa is 6 years. There will not be any extension granted. If your employer files on time, it will be easier to get the green card. On the other hand, if you are on H1B visa, max stay on the visa is 6 years, however you can go for another 3 year extension if your employer files for green card, whether the green card is approved or not. It is flexible on H1B visa because, if you realize that your employer does not sponsor green card, you can change the job in US and find the employer who can sponsor. Even though your spouse can’t work on H4 visa initially, he/she will be able to work once the employer files for green card. You need not wait for green card, just receipt I-140 is sufficient for spouse to work in US.
What is the difference between H1 and L1?
The difference between H1 and L1 was in the fact that the employee should have been with the employer for at least a year prior to the application being filed. The purpose of the visas were different - the H1B is to fulfill a labor gap in the US market, the L1 is for an intra-company transfer.
Where to apply for L1B visa?
Upon approval of the visa, the individual may apply for an L-1 visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate. (As Canadians entering the United States are not required to present an L visa stamp at the border, Canadian citizens may file the petition directly at an INS port of entry.)
Which is better L1A or H1B?
From my personal experience, H1B is better than L1A or L1B visas, if you are one of the lucky person to get the H1B visa in lottery. My suggestion is to apply for H1B through petition, if selected go with it, if not then apply for L1A.
How to get a L1 visa?
L1 Blanket Visa Requirements 1 Each of the qualifying organizations of the company must be engaged in commercial trade or services. 2 The company must have an office in the US that has been doing business for one year or more. 3 The company must have three or more domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates. 4 The company and other qualifying organizations must meet one of the following criteria: 5 Have obtained at least 10 L1 visas during the previous 12 months, 6 Have a combined annual sales of at least USD 25 million, or 7 Have a US work force of at least 1,000 employees.
How long is a blanket visa valid?
The initial validity of a blanket visa is 3 years. The US company may also file for an extension if needed.
How many types of L1 procedures are there?
There are two types of L1 procedures:
Introduction
Advantages
Eligibility
Individual Petition
Documents
Fees
Filing
Processing
- An L-1 blanket petition only deals with the relationships between the entities in the corporate structure and not with the alien beneficiaries. Once the initial L-1 blanket petition is approved, any of the qualifying organizations listed in the approved L-1 blanket petition may transfer employee(s). Any corporate entity not listed in the L-1 blanke...
Validity and Extension