Skip to content L class visas for the US are divided into L1-A and L1-B. These are visas for workers temporarily transferred to the US within the same group of companies. Such employees must occupy managerial positions or possess specialized knowledge.
Visas key features
L class visas can be requested by workers who, during the three years prior to the application, have worked continuously for at least one year for the foreign company. Such workers must be assigned to a branch, affiliate or subsidiary in the United States, with managerial, executive or highly specialized tasks.
Like E visas, L visas are “non-immigrant,”. This means they are temporary visas for travelling to the United States for limited periods of time.
L visas are valid for five years, but the PED (Petition Expiration Date) usually indicates a shorter duration. Such duration can be, for instance, 3 years and it is linked to the specific work approval. So, if the visa is still valid, it will be sufficient to renew the petition.
The maximum period of stay allowed is always defined at the time of entry into the United States.
L1-A Visas
L-1A visas are for workers transferred within a U.S. company who occupy managerial or executive positions in a company located outside the United States.
Managerial ability generally refers to the ability to supervise and control the work of professional employees and to manage the organization, or a department, subdivision, function, or component of the organization. It can also refer to the ability to manage an essential function of the organization at a high level, without the direct supervision of others.
L1-B Visas
L-1B visas are for intra-U.S. company transfer workers who occupy positions that require specialized knowledge.
Specialized knowledge means knowledge of the product, service, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests of the applicant organization and their application in international markets, or an advanced level of knowledge or expertise in the organization’s processes and procedures.
Release procedure and timing
Unlike E visas, L visas require approval from the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). To prepare the petition you need numerous documents from the Italian and US companies. These include: office photos, accounting documents, financial statements, tax returns, etc.
It can take up to six months for USCIS to approve your request. However, there is the possibility of requesting the premium processing service upon payment of about $3,000. Accordingly, you get a response within fifteen working days.
Once the authorities release the approval notice, one can proceed with the visa application by filling out the DS-160 form, creating the consular account and paying the consular fee. Applicants must schedule an interview at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in Italy. The interview date depends on the availability of appointments. Visa officers use the interview to understand the reasons for the visa application. Specifically, they check the activities that the applicant will carry out in the United States. After the consular interview, authorities return the passport with the visa to the applicant via DHL, if you opt for the premium return procedure. Otherwise, the applicant must go and collect the passport in person at a storage center.
As for the renewal of the petition, it is advisable to start the renewal process at least six months before the deadline. In fact, you need to prepare the American and Italian business documentation, prepare the application, submit a new application to the USCIS and wait for approval.
L-1 Blanket petition
This is a visa application method that allows organizations based in the United States to petition the USCIS to bring several foreign employees to the United States quickly and at short notice. This is a single visa petition that eliminates the need to file separate L-1 petitions for each qualified employee. Once the USCIS approved the L-1 visa global petition, any relocating employee can petition for an L-1 visa directly to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in a more streamlined manner than an L visa petition requested outside the Blanket program.
As a result, companies that have obtained the approval of an L-1 Blanket petition and need to apply for an L visa, can proceed directly to fill out the DS-160 form and follow the next steps.
L visas for spouse and children
Spouses and children under the age of 21 of an L visa holder can apply for the same visa category. The authorities will issue them an L-2 visa. It will have a maximum duration of five years and an expiration date equal to the main applicant’s visa.
Dependants can submit their application after that of the main applicant. In this case, the expiry of the visa will always be the same as that of the spouse/parent.