Visa Categories

Visitors who are Temporarily Assigned to the U.S. Branch of their Company

(return to visa categories)

L-1 - Temporary Work Visa

Employees of an international company who are being temporarily transferred to a parent branch, affiliate, or subsidiary of the same company in the United States require Intra Company transfer (L-1) visas. The international company may be either a U.S. or foreign organization. To qualify, the employee must be at the managerial or executive level, or have specialized knowledge and be destined to a position within the U.S. company at either of these levels, although not necessarily in the same position as held previously.  In addition, the employee must have been employed outside the U.S. with the international company continuously for one year within the three years preceding the application for admission into the United States.

Individual petition versus blanket petition

The employment must be approved in advance by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States on the basis of a petition, form I-129 L, filed by the employer with the USCIS Service Center. Companies seeking the classification of multiple aliens as intra company transferees may file a blanket petition with USCIS. The blanket petition provision is meant to serve only relatively large, established companies having multi-layered structures and numerous related business entities.  Any questions which you may have concerning this process should be addressed to the appropriate USCIS office in the United States.  Visit www.uscis.gov

What happens once a petition has been approved by USCIS?

If an L petition has been approved in your name you will be required to apply for a visa before traveling to the United States. The Notice of Action, form I-797A or B, is not valid for travel unless accompanied by the appropriate visa.

IMPORTANT: upon receipt of the I-797 Approval Notice, please sent us an e-mail with your receipt number to: AmsterdamAppointment@state.gov. This will allow the Consulate to prepare for your visa application visit and provide a faster service.

Spouses, Children & Partners

Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visa holder in the United States for the duration of his/her stay require derivative L-2 visas.  To qualify for a dependent visa, applicants must bring civil documents to prove relationship to the principal applicant, i.e. spouses: original marriage certificate, children: original birth certificate.  Spouses and/or children who do not intend to reside in the United States with the principal visa holder, but visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for visitor (B-2) visas, or if qualified, travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

More information for partners and common-law spouses.

Working on an L-2 visa

Spouses may seek employment authorization on derivative L-2 visas. For further information, please contact the USCIS on your arrival in the United States or research further on www.uscis.gov.