The L-1 visa category is aimed primarily at key employees of international companies who are being sent to the USA to work for their existing employer, or at those coming to the USA to establish a new branch, subsidiary or similar office. The company does not need to have a presence in the US already.

viza do usa

Druh vízCena
H-1B
L1
E2		4.850 EUR
EB519.450 EUR
B1600 EUR
Konzultácia200 EUR

General requirements for L category work visas

Congress introduced this visa type in 1970 to enable multinational firms, organisations and internationally active companies to send their own workers or staff to the United States to work on an assigned (short-term) project. The L-1 visa has 2 categories: L-1A and L-1B. The L-1A is for key staff, managers and executives, whereas the L-1B is designed for employees with specialised knowledge and experience of the company’s operations.

  1. An L visa applicant must have been continuously employed for at least one year within the last 3 years, and that employment must have been with the sending company.
  2. The applicant must be able to demonstrate that they work as an executive or key employee, or as a specialised employee with particular expert knowledge.
  3. When the visa expires, the holder must either leave the USA or arrange for it to be extended.
  4. The overseas company must be affiliated with the US firm sponsoring the applicant’s L visa, or be directly connected to such a firm.
  1. The L visa category is an excellent means for foreign companies to bring experienced staff to work in the United States, while also giving those employees the opportunity to move between the company’s operations worldwide.

To obtain an L-1 visa, the applicant must have worked for the company without interruption for at least 1 year within the preceding 3 years in a managerial, executive or specialist role, and must intend to continue in that particular position. Where justified, an L-1 applicant must also show that they meet certain character and health requirements.

The L-1 category permits the holder to live and work in the USA on a temporary basis. Where the sending company already has a presence in the United States, the visa is normally valid for 3 years; for a new company, it is usually valid for one year. While holding an L-1 visa, the applicant may also apply for a Green Card, which, if approved and issued, allows them to remain in the USA permanently. The L-2 category (a derivative visa) enables the posted employee’s lawful spouse and unmarried children under 21 to join them in the USA. These family members may also study (no student visa is required in this case) and may take up employment once their work authorisation has been approved.

The E-2 investor visa permits the applicant to enter and work in the USA on the basis of an investment they direct. It must be renewed every 2 years and the investment must be “substantial”, but beyond that there is no limit on the number of renewals.

The L-1 visa allows the applicant to enter the United States to work in L-1 status. It is important to note that the L-1 is a non-immigrant visa valid only for a limited period. This may be a continuous period of three months to one year, extendable to a maximum of seven years, depending on the country from which the applicant enters the USA.

There are 2 types of L-1 visa:

individual L-1 visas, available to individual applicants,

blanket L-1 visas, available to employers meeting specific criteria.

The E-2 investor visa has no sub-categories.

An E-2 investor applicant must be from a country that has a qualifying treaty with the USA.

The applicant must demonstrate either that they are involved in a process or activity entailing a significant investment, or that they have personally made a “substantial” investment.

The size of investment required depends on the type of business. The applicant must hold a stake of at least 50%, or a controlling interest, in their operating company.

The applicant must have worked abroad for the same company for at least 1 year.

The applicant’s company must trade as an active business in the USA for the whole of the applicant’s stay.

The applicant’s position abroad must have required “specialised knowledge” or been a managerial or executive role.