Chinese applicants · United States of America
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager) for Chinese citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
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 route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- 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
No fixed national clock published
USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 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.U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Code of Federal Regulations, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
- ✓Employment abroad and intended US employment must both be in an executive or managerial capacity.U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Code of Federal Regulations, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
- ✓A qualifying relationship must exist between the foreign and US employers (parent, subsidiary, affiliate or branch).U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Code of Federal Regulations, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
Common blockers
- !First-line supervisors of non-professional staff who do not meet the statutory managerial capacity definition.U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Code of Federal Regulations, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
- !New-office cases lacking evidence of sufficient premises, business plan, and funding.U.S. Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Code of Federal Regulations, via U.S. Government Publishing Office) ↗
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.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United States. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyEmployerFile Form I-129 for L-1A ↗
The U.S. employer uses Form I-129 to petition for an executive or manager transfer.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · verified
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. Department of Homeland Security
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. Chinese applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
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?+
USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Shenyang / Wuhan, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 10 September 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.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Last checked: 8 July 2026