Chinese applicants · United States of America
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) for Chinese 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 Chinese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to China. 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
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenyang / Wuhan
Tourist entry vs. this route
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into United States of America. The L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Chinese 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 Chinese applicants
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)
Intracompany transfer for employees with specialised knowledge of the employer’s products, services, or processes.
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).
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)
Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Permanent residence through investment in a new US commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)
Non-immigrant student visa for academic study at a SEVP-certified institution, with post-study OPT employment authorisation.
Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A)
Permanent residence for the spouse of a US citizen (IR1/CR1) or lawful permanent resident (F2A preference).
Not sure United States of America is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer intra company routes that Chinese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Chinese 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. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Chinese applicants typically file the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)?+
Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenyang / Wuhan. 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 Chinese applicants need a tourist visa for United States of America as well?+
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into United States of America. The L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How long does the L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) take to process from China?+
The typical published decision window is 2 months – 8 months. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenyang / Wuhan, 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.