Cohen Brosh Law Firm specializes in work visas to the United States, including business visas and L visas. We help obtain a business visa – L visa in the United States for Israeli businesses that want to expand the scope of their activities.
Visa L
An L-1 petition may allow a qualifying multinational organization to transfer an executive, manager or employee with specialized knowledge to a related U.S. entity, including a qualifying new office. It is not a general business visa. L-1 status is granted for limited periods, with aggregate limits generally of seven years for L-1A and five years for L-1B; a new-office petition is normally approved initially for no more than one year. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify for L-2 classification. An eligible L-2 spouse may be employment-authorized incident to status when the admission record is correctly annotated; L-2 children are not employment-authorized incident to dependent status. L classification permits dual intent, but permanent residence requires a separate immigrant basis and filing. See our general L-1 visa guide for the controlling eligibility and filing framework.
Who should apply for an L visa
Since the L visa is an employer visa, the application must be submitted by a US employer. The process is quite lengthy and requires preparing a file containing a large number of documents and forms.
The foreign company must prove to the US authorities a legal connection with the American company. For example, if a foreign company is a subsidiary of a US company, it must provide documents confirming this (resolutions of the board of directors, shares, tax returns, etc.).
An employee of a foreign company for whom an L visa application is being made must meet the criteria for obtaining this visa. Must meet the definition of a senior executive, manager, or person with specialized knowledge under USCIS federal law. The employee must provide the following documents:
- Summary
- Diploma
- A letter confirming employment from a foreign company, which describes in detail what the employee did.
- Resolution of the board of directors or documents of appointment confirming the transfer to the US office.
- Any other document confirming the employee’s ability to manage the business.
- 12 employee salary statement.
Contact us
L-1 adjudication depends on the qualifying relationship between the foreign and U.S. entities, the proposed U.S. role, the employee’s qualifying foreign employment and the supporting evidence. Published visa-issuance figures do not predict the outcome of an individual petition or consular application. Current filing requirements, fees and processing options should be verified when the case is prepared.
Contact our office for a case-specific assessment. This page provides general information and is not a substitute for legal advice.