United States of America · intra company
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)
Intracompany transfer for executives or managers moving to a US office of a related multinational employer.
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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.
Processing time
Regular: 2–6 months. Premium processing: 15 business days.
See source window: 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 2,805.
Typical duration
Initial 3 years (1 year for new-office L-1A); extendable to 7 years total.
Primary source
USCIS — L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
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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
Step 1
Establish qualifying relationship
Document parent/subsidiary/affiliate/branch relationship between foreign and US employers.
Step 2
File Form I-129 with L supplement
USCIS adjudicates the intracompany transfer petition.
Step 3
Consular processing (if outside US)
L-1 visa stamp issued at US consulate.
Step 4
Renewals and EB-1C pathway
Extend L-1A up to 7 years; many employers pursue EB-1C for permanent residence.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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