The L-1A Visa: A Pathway for Executives and Managers to Work—and Even Get a Green Card—in the U.S.

​If you’re an international business executive or manager looking to expand your company’s presence in the United States, the L-1A Intracompany Transferee Visa could be the key. This visa allows multinational companies to transfer executives and managers from their foreign offices to a U.S. branch, subsidiary, or affiliate. It’s also one of the most direct routes to permanent residency (a green card) through the EB-1C immigrant visa category.

​What Is the L-1A Visa?

The L-1A visa is designed for executives and managers who are being transferred to the United States by a foreign company that has a qualifying relationship with a U.S. entity. The visa helps multinational businesses grow and operate across borders by allowing key personnel to move seamlessly between offices.
There are two common situations where the L-1A visa is used:
  1. Transferring to an existing U.S. office: You’ve worked abroad for a related company for at least one continuous year in the past three years and are now needed in a managerial or executive role in the U.S.
  2. Starting a new U.S. office: You’re coming to the U.S. to open and manage a new branch or subsidiary for your company.

​Who Qualifies as an “Executive” or “Manager”?

​U.S. immigration law defines these roles carefully:
  • Executives direct the management of the organization or a major part of it, establish goals and policies, and exercise wide decision-making authority.
  • Managers supervise and control the work of other professional employees, manage a department or function, and have authority over personnel and operations.
It’s not enough to simply hold a high title--the substance of your duties matters. The position must primarily involve strategic decision-making, not day-to-day operational tasks.

​Key Elements of an L-1A Petition

To succeed with an L-1A visa, your petition must show:
  1. A qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign entities (parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch).
  2. The employee has worked abroad for at least one year in an executive or managerial role within the past three years.
  3. The employee will work in an executive or managerial capacity in the U.S.
  4. The U.S. company is actively doing business or will soon be (if it’s a new office).
  5. The position and business have sufficient organizational structure to justify an executive or managerial role.

L-1A to Green Card: The EB-1C Option

One of the biggest advantages of the L-1A visa is that it can lead directly to a green card through the EB-1C Multinational Manager or Executive category—without requiring labor certification (PERM). This means a faster, smoother path to permanent residency for qualifying executives and managers.
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In many cases, once the U.S. business has been operating for at least one year and the executive or manager has shown ongoing leadership over a viable team, an EB-1C petition can be filed.

​How We Can Help

Our firm assists multinational businesses and professionals at every stage of the L-1A process—from company structuring and evidence preparation to filing for the visa and transitioning to a green card. We understand the detailed documentation USCIS expects and know how to present your role and organization effectively.
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Whether you’re expanding your global operations, transferring key personnel, or seeking a permanent future in the United States, we can guide you from visa to green card.

Contact us today to explore your L-1A or EB-1C options and start building your U.S. presence with confidence.

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