L-1 and L-2 Visas to the USA for Executives, Employees and Families
L-1 and L-2 visas are designed for international companies that transfer executives and employees between a foreign office and a branch, subsidiary, or affiliated company in the United States. The L-1 visa allows managers, executives and key specialists to legally work for a U.S. company, while the L-2 visa allows their spouses and children to reside in the United States, with the spouse receiving work authorization without a separate permit. We support the entire process from business structure review to visa approval and entry to the United States. The L-1 visa allows managers, executives and key specialists to legally work for a U.S. company, while the L-2 visa allows their spouses and children to reside in the United States, and the spouse receives work authorization without a separate permit. We guide the process from business structure analysis to receiving the USCIS decision and completing the consular stage.
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What is the L-1 visa and who is it suitable for
The L-1 USA visa is intended for international companies that carry out an intracompany transfer to the United States – transferring
executives, managers and key specialists
from a foreign office to a U.S. branch, subsidiary, or affiliated entity.
The L-1 visa for employees is suitable for companies that have both foreign and U.S. offices and want to transfer an employee within the corporate group without going through the labor certification (PERM) process.
The employer must file on behalf of the employee Form I-129 with the required filing fee, confirming the relationship between the companies, the employee’s position, and the legitimacy of employment in the United States.
Who the L-1 visa is suitable for:
Key Requirements for the L-1 Visa
To obtain an L-1 USA visa, both the applicant and the company must meet a number of requirements that are reviewed by USCIS when filing the L-1 petition with USCIS. Unlike investment programs, the L-1 visa for employees is based on proving a legitimate business, corporate relationship, and the necessity of an intracompany transfer to the United States.
Key conditions for the L-1 visa:
The corporate structure must be documented: the foreign company and the U.S. company must be a branch, subsidiary, or part of the same corporate group.
USCIS evaluates whether the companies are actively conducting business and continue to operate both in the United States and in at least one other country throughout the employee’s stay.
The company must demonstrate why an intracompany transfer to the United States under the L-1 visa is necessary and why this role is critical for the U.S. entity. The employee must have worked continuously for the foreign company for at least 1 year within the past 3 years prior to filing the petition. This period must have been in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge position.
The process begins with filing Form I-129 (employer petition). This is the core step in obtaining the L-1 USA visa.
If the company uses a blanket approval, Form I-129S may be filed – this simplifies the process for certain transfer categories.
When applying outside the United States, Form DS-160 is completed, followed by consular processing.
How to Obtain an L-1 and L-2 Visa – Step by Step
Obtaining an L-1 USA visa is a structured process where not only the employee’s documents matter, but also the corporate structure of the business, compliance with USCIS requirements, and the correct strategy for an intracompany transfer to the United States. Below is an outline showing how companies apply for the L-1 visa for employees, as well as how the L-2 USA visa for family members is prepared in parallel.
Strict compliance with these steps allows a company to lawfully complete an intracompany transfer to the United States and obtain the L-1 USA visa for an executive or employee. At the same time, the L-2 USA visa ensures the legal relocation of the family – with residence rights and work authorization for the spouse. A properly prepared strategy and documentation reduce the risk of USCIS requests and increase the likelihood of approval from the first filing.
Main Forms and Applications for the L-1 and L-2 Visa
The L-1 USA visa process includes mandatory preparation of immigration and consular forms, as well as corporate documentation of the company. For a successful intracompany transfer to the United States, it is important to properly prepare not only the employee’s package but also the family’s documents through the L-2 USA visa. The company takes full control of this stage – from strategy to filing and case support.
Each document is prepared in accordance with the practice of the specific consulate and USCIS requirements to ensure that the transfer of employees to the United States under the L-1 visa is well-founded and that the family obtains status through the L-2 USA visa without unnecessary delays.
L-1 and L-2 Visa – a Lawful Transfer to the U.S. and Stable Status
The L-1 USA visa is one of the most straightforward ways to arrange an intracompany transfer to the United States for executives, managers, and key specialists. This format fits international companies that need to transfer an employee in a legally proper way: with a documented corporate structure, a well-grounded role, and an employer-filed I-129 petition to obtain the L-1 visa.
An additional advantage is the ability to obtain an L-2 visa for the family of the L-1 holder. This makes relocation more predictable: the employee works in the U.S. entity, while the family gets the right to legally live in the United States, and the spouse can work.
What L-1 / L-2 provides in practice:
The L-1 visa for employees allows a company to arrange a visa-based transfer to the United States without searching for a candidate on the U.S. market – through an internal transfer between offices.
The process starts with the employer filing an I-129 petition to obtain the L-1 visa. USCIS evaluates not the intent to relocate, but the real business structure and the necessity of transferring the employee.
The L-2 family visa allows the spouse and children under 21 to live in the United States together with the L-1 holder. The spouse also receives work authorization, which makes adaptation in the U.S. easier and faster.
Why immigration attorney support matters
The L-1 USA visa is not a formal “template” filing. USCIS reviews the case holistically: the relationship between the companies, genuine business operations, the employee’s position, the justification for the intracompany transfer to the United States, and whether the role fits the L-1A or L-1B category. Errors in business structure, job duty descriptions, or the document package often lead to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and delays, even if the company itself meets the requirements.
Professional support helps properly structure the transfer of employees to the United States under the L-1 visa, prepare a well-founded USCIS petition, and align the case with requirements and adjudication practice.
We will:
Support makes it possible to go from reviewing the business structure to obtaining approval of the L-1 USA visa, and also to obtain the L-2 USA visa for the family – with residence rights and work authorization for the spouse.
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ReLocate is a team of immigration lawyers and attorneys. For more than 14 years, we have supported clients on immigration matters and helped with complex visa applications. We specialize in immigration law, passport and visa matters, and border/travel regulations.
A team of specialists will work on your case
Cost of our services
Initial consultation
| Filing the I-129 petition with USCIS (base immigration filing fees) | 1 385 usd |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee (charged upon the first L status approval for the beneficiary) | +500 usd |
| Consular fee for visa issuance (L-1 / L-2) | 205 usd / person |
| Estimated mandatory fees for the principal applicant: | from 1 590 usd |
Additional expenses (if needed)
from 50 USD – assistance with obtaining a police clearance certificate
from 6 USD / 1800 characters – written translations (UA/RU/EN)
additional USCIS government fees may apply depending on the company structure and filing type
a discount may be available when filing multiple employees at the same time (within 6 months)
payment for our services can be split into stages
Government and consular fee amounts are set by USCIS and the U.S. Department of State and may change without prior notice. Please verify the current amounts at the time of filing.
Why our services are not an expense, but an investment
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Answers to common questions
The employee must:
- have worked for at least 1 continuous year in the company’s foreign entity within the past 3 years;
- hold an executive or managerial position, or a role requiring specialized knowledge;
- be transferred to a related company in the United States.
An executive position involves making key strategic decisions and directing the company or a significant part of it with minimal oversight.
A managerial position may include:
- supervising other employees;
- managing a department or business line;
- being responsible for a key business function even without direct reports (functional manager).
This includes:
- deep knowledge of the company’s products, technologies, services, or processes;
- expertise in internal procedures and know-how;
- experience that is difficult to quickly replace in the labor market.
If the company is opening a new office, filing under the L-1A (new office) category may be possible. Initial status is typically granted for 1 year, after which the company must prove active business operations to extend it.
The process may include:
- I-129 – employer petition with USCIS
- I-129S – when filing through Blanket L
- DS-160 – consular application form to obtain the visa
- I-539 – extension/change of status for family members
- I-765 – obtaining work authorization (if needed)
An expedited option, Premium Processing (Form I-907), is available – a decision is issued within 15 calendar days for an additional government fee.