British applicants · United States of America
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) for British citizens
Intracompany transfer for executives or managers moving to a US office of a related multinational employer.
This page covers the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) specifically for British applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to United Kingdom. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 2 months – 8 months
- Government fees
- I-129 base USD 1,385 (for most employers), plus fraud prevention (USD 500) and asylum program fee (USD 600). Premium processing USD 2,965.
- Typical duration
- Initial 3 years (1 year for new-office L-1A); extendable to 7 years total.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Bilateral context
- US E-1/E-2 Treaty
Consular processing: London (US Embassy) / Belfast
Tourist entry vs. this route
Yes — British nationals can enter United States of America without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager).
Key figures for British applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
2 months – 8 months
2–8 months typical for I-129 L-1A; Premium Processing available.
Verified 1 June 2026 · USCIS — Case Processing Times →
Visa overview
The L-1A permits multinational employers to transfer executives or managers from a qualifying foreign entity to a related US employer. L-1A can be used to open a new US office (with a 1-year initial validity) and allows dual intent, making it a common precursor to the EB-1C multinational manager green card.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓At least 1 continuous year of full-time employment with the qualifying foreign entity in the prior 3 years.
- ✓Employment abroad and intended US employment must both be in an executive or managerial capacity.
- ✓A qualifying relationship must exist between the foreign and US employers (parent, subsidiary, affiliate or branch).
Common blockers
- !First-line supervisors of non-professional staff who do not meet the statutory managerial capacity definition.
- !New-office cases lacking evidence of sufficient premises, business plan, and funding.
Typical evidence
- ·Organisation charts for the foreign and US entities.
- ·Evidence of the corporate relationship (share registers, consolidated financials).
- ·Beneficiary’s job description abroad and in the US, with subordinates and decision-making authority.
Application pathway
Establish qualifying relationship
Document parent/subsidiary/affiliate/branch relationship between foreign and US employers.
File Form I-129 with L supplement
USCIS adjudicates the intracompany transfer petition.
Consular processing (if outside US)
L-1 visa stamp issued at US consulate.
Renewals and EB-1C pathway
Extend L-1A up to 7 years; many employers pursue EB-1C for permanent residence.
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 12 January 2026In force 1 March 2026
US: premium processing rises to $2,965 and H-1B moves to wage-weighted selection
Two USCIS changes land for the FY2027 H-1B season: the Form I-907 premium-processing fee rises with inflation, and cap-subject H-1B selection switches from a random lottery to a wage-weighted process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services → - 1 April 2024In force 1 April 2024
USCIS final fee rule takes effect
USCIS implemented its first major fee schedule adjustment in nearly a decade, including differentiated H-1B filing fees by employer type.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services →
Other United States of America routes covered for British applicants
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).
E-2 Treaty Investor
Non-immigrant treaty investor visa for nationals of countries with a qualifying treaty of commerce and navigation with the US.
Not sure United States of America is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer intra company routes that British nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are British citizens eligible for the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)?+
Eligibility for the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) is set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and is not nationality-restricted beyond the general criteria, though British applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: US E-1/E-2 Treaty. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do British applicants typically file the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)?+
London (US Embassy) / Belfast. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do British applicants need a tourist visa for United States of America as well?+
Yes — British nationals can enter United States of America without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager).
How long does the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) take to process from United Kingdom?+
The typical published decision window is 2 months – 8 months. British applicants usually file via London (US Embassy) / Belfast, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 1 June 2026.
What is a blanket L?+
A blanket L petition allows qualifying multinational groups to pre-approve an L-1 programme for groups of transfers. Individual employees still apply for L-1 visas at the consulate, but without a new I-129 per case.