L-1 Visa Requirements Checklist
The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer employees to the US. L-1A covers managers and executives (and can lead to EB-1C green card). L-1B covers specialized knowledge workers. Check each requirement that applies to your situation.
Qualifying Relationship
✓
Your US and foreign employers are the same company, a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate.
Must demonstrate corporate relationship through ownership documents, org charts, or corporate filings.
✓
The US employer is or will be doing business in the US.
Must be actively conducting business — a newly established US entity must show business plans, clients, or contracts.
Employment History
✓
You worked for the foreign entity for at least 1 continuous year in the past 3 years.
The one year must be outside the US, in a qualifying capacity (manager, executive, or specialized knowledge).
✓
You will assume a managerial or executive role in the US.
Manager = supervises professional-level employees or manages a function/department. Executive = high-level decision-making authority.
Manager/Executive Role Definition
✓
You direct the work of other professional employees or manage a key function/component.
First-line supervision of non-professionals alone does not qualify as managerial.
✓
You have authority to hire/fire or recommend those actions.
Or your recommendations about personnel are given particular weight.
✓
You primarily perform executive or managerial duties (not routine tasks).
Day-to-day operational tasks should not dominate your time.
Qualifying Relationship (Same as L-1A)
✓
Same company, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate relationship.
Ownership structure must be documented.
✓
1 year continuous employment abroad in the past 3 years.
Must have worked outside the US in a qualifying role.
Specialized Knowledge
✓
You have special knowledge of the company's products, services, research, equipment, or techniques.
"Special" means beyond what is generally found in the industry — proprietary, internal, or uniquely advanced.
✓
Your knowledge is significantly above that of others in the industry or within the company.
Must be able to articulate specifically what makes your knowledge "specialized" vs. routine.
✓
The US position requires your specific specialized knowledge.
USCIS looks for a genuine business need, not a pretextual transfer.
✓
You can document the knowledge through training records, project documentation, or expert testimony.
Thin documentation is the top cause of L-1B RFEs and denials.