L‑1A Visa: Expand Your Business to the United States
If you’re an executive or manager of a successful foreign company looking to launch or grow operations in the U.S., the L‑1A visa offers a direct path. This intracompany transfer visa allows you to relocate to the U.S. to oversee the launch or leadership of a qualifying U.S. affiliate, subsidiary, or branch.
At Ortega-Medina & Associates, we’ve helped clients worldwide successfully navigate this process—and we’re here to support your expansion.
Start with Our L-1A Visa Assessment Form
What Is the L‑1A Visa?
The L‑1A visa allows international companies to transfer executives or managers to the U.S. to open or operate a U.S. office. It’s widely used for:
- Business expansions and branch launches
- Acquiring or starting a U.S. entity
- Sending ownership-level talent to lead operations
L‑1A Company Requirements
To qualify for the L‑1A:
- The foreign company must have been operating for at least one year
- A qualifying U.S. entity (subsidiary, branch, affiliate) must exist or be established
- For new offices, you must submit a detailed business plan and show meaningful startup progress within 12 months
- The foreign company should employ at least three additional managers or executives, beyond the owner
- You must show the business is active, financially stable, and that the expansion will create U.S. jobs
Who Qualifies to Transfer Under L‑1A?
Eligible employees include:
- Owners: Majority shareholders or sole proprietors
- Executives: CEO, President, VP, or Director-level leaders
- Senior Managers: Department heads or general managers (not first-line supervisors)
Note: Specialized knowledge workers may qualify under the separate L‑1B category.
L‑1A Personal Requirements
The transferee must:
- Have worked at the foreign entity in an executive or managerial role for at least 1 out of the past 3 years
- Be entering the U.S. to take up an executive or managerial role
- Be essential to the success and operations of the U.S. office
Processing Times and Fees
- With premium processing, decisions are typically issued in 15 business days
- No Labor Certification or LCA is required
- Filing fees are moderate compared to other employment visa categories
- Canadian citizens can often process same-day at most Canada–US ports of entry
From L‑1A to Green Card (EB‑1C)
After the U.S. entity has been operating for at least one year, qualifying executives and managers may apply for EB‑1C permanent residency without the labor certification process—provided both U.S. and foreign entities remain active and staffed.
Note: EB‑1C eligibility is not exclusive to the L‑1A category. Executives in E‑2 status may also qualify under similar criteria.
What We Offer
At Ortega-Medina & Associates, our all-inclusive L‑1A visa services can cover:
- U.S. entity formation and EIN registration
- Business address setup (including phone, fax)
- License and compliance guidance
- Business plan review and visa strategy
- Visa application preparation and representation
- Post-visa consultation with our business law team
Why Choose Us?
With over 20 years of experience in U.S. business immigration law, we’ve successfully handled cases other firms considered impossible. If we take your case, it’s because we believe in it. If your petition is denied for a reason other than fraud or criminal inadmissibility, we’ll troubleshoot and refile or explore alternatives—at no additional charge.
Contact us today to find out whether the L‑1A visa is the right fit for your business goals.
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