L-1A Visa Requirements for U.S. Entry | International Consulting Services (ICS)

At International Consulting Services (ICS), we guide executives and managers of overseas firms through the L-1A visa process, ensuring that the application is compliant with U.S. immigration law. The L-1A visa is designed for individuals being transferred to a U.S. office in a managerial or executive capacity, whether to establish a new office or manage an existing branch or subsidiary.

Types of L-1A Visa Processes: Regular vs. Blanket

There are two distinct processes to obtain the L-1A Visa:

Regular L-1A Visa: Requires individual approval from USCIS for each application.
Blanket L-1A Visa: Available to certain organizations that meet specific criteria, allowing them to apply for multiple employees without individual approvals. This guide primarily focuses on the Regular L-1A Visa application.

L-1A Visa Prerequisites for Qualifying Employers

For an overseas company to qualify for the L-1A visa, it must meet the following conditions:

Qualifying Relationship: The foreign company (outside the U.S.) must have a relationship with the U.S. business, such as a parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office.
Dual Intent: The L-1A visa is a Dual Intent Visa, meaning the visa holder can pursue permanent residency (Green Card) while on the visa.

Eligibility Criteria for L-1A Visa Applicants:

To qualify for the L-1A visa, the applicant (executive or manager) must meet the following requirements:

Previous Employment: The executive or manager must have worked for the overseas company for at least 1 year in the last 3 years before entering the U.S.
Qualifying Capacity: The employee must have worked in an executive or managerial capacity with the overseas company.
- Executive Capacity: Refers to a role where the individual makes decisions with significant discretion, without much oversight.
- Managerial Capacity: Refers to a role where the individual manages a team of employees or supervises a specific function, department, or division of the company.
Position in the U.S.: The applicant must be coming to the U.S. to work in a managerial or executive role.
Education & Experience: The applicant must have the necessary qualifications for the role, including relevant education and work experience.
Intent to Depart: The L-1A visa holder must intend to leave the U.S. once their authorized stay ends.

Required Documents for L-1A Visa Application

Both the overseas company and the U.S. company must submit supporting documents to USCIS. These include:

Overseas Company (Foreign Firm):

Latest financial records (annual reports for the past three years)
Firm brochure or marketing materials
Copy of U.S. office lease
Proof of ownership in the U.S. firm
Employment offer letter outlining duties in the U.S.
Organizational chart of the overseas company

U.S. Company:

Latest financial records (tax returns for the past three years)
Firm brochure or marketing materials
Copy of U.S. office lease
Proof of ownership in the overseas company
Organizational chart of the U.S. company
Visa & I-94 copies (if in the U.S.)
Proof of 1 year of overseas employment (e.g., letter from employer, pay stubs)
Resume/CV and any education certificates
Letters of experience from previous employers (if applicable)

Individual Applicant (Overseas Employee):

Copy of passport
Copy of current U.S. visa (if in the U.S.) and I-94
Proof of 1 year of overseas employment with the foreign firm (e.g., letter, pay stubs)
Resume/CV and any education certificates
Letters of experience from prior employers (if applicable)

L-1A Visa Requirements for New Firm

If the U.S. firm is new, in place of the financial documents (e.g., annual report, tax returns), the following are required:

Business plan, including financial projections, organizational chart, and balance sheet.

Extension or Renewal of L-1A Visa

To extend or renew an L-1A Visa, the following documents are required:

Proof of the applicant’s continued employment in the same capacity.
Copies of the last three pay stubs from the U.S. company.

L-1A Visa Prerequisites for Blanket L-1 (for large firms)

If the company is applying for a Blanket L-1:

The U.S. company must have been operating for at least 1 year.
The company must have at least 3 branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates.
Additional criteria may include:
- 10 L-1 visa approvals in the past 12 months.
- U.S. company with $25 million in annual sales or a workforce of at least 1,000 employees.

L-1A Visa for New Offices

For companies establishing a new office in the U.S.:

A detailed business plan must be provided instead of tax returns or financial statements.

Contact International Consulting Services (ICS)

For expert assistance with the L-1A Visa application process and to ensure full compliance with U.S. immigration law, reach out to ICS:

Phone: +92 333 0172827
Email: internationals771@gmail.com
Website: International Consulting Services

At ICS, we provide comprehensive support for both U.S. businesses and overseas firms to help manage the L-1A visa application process and ensure a smooth transition for executives, managers, and specialized knowledge workers to the United States.