L VISAS FOR INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFEREES
The intra-company transferee visa (L1) is very similar to the E1/E2 but does not require that both the company have Japanese nationality and that the individual applicant be a Japanese national.
Thus, if a Japanese company wants to transfer a Chinese manager from its factory in China, the L visa would allow that. Similarly, if an American owned company wants to transfer a Japanese employee from its offices in Tokyo or Germany, the L visa would be available.
It is also the primary visa used by U.S. representative offices of Japanese companies because “representative offices” do not engage in actual trade and thus are not eligible for E visas.
Generally speaking, the same type of workers qualify under the L & E classifications. Both require that the employee be an executive, a manager, or possess certain skills. For the L classification they are called “specialized knowledge”.
From our many years of experience, we feel a lower standard is required to get an L1B (specialized knowledge) approval than an essential skills E. Unfortunately, USCIS is getting more difficult in their adjudications of individual L1B visa petitions but this higher standard can be avoided if the company obtains a blanket L approval (please see this section on both our websites) since L’s under the blanket do not require USCIS approval.
Spouses (but not children) of L’s can obtain work authorization from USCIS which does not require proof of any special skills or an actual job offer.
L VISAS FOR INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFEREES
The intra-company transferee visa (L1) is very similar to the E1/E2 but does not require that both the company have Japanese nationality and that the individual applicant be a Japanese national.
Thus, if a Japanese company wants to transfer a Chinese manager from its factory in China, the L visa would allow that. Similarly, if an American owned company wants to transfer a Japanese employee from its offices in Tokyo or Germany, the L visa would be available.
It is also the primary visa used by U.S. representative offices of Japanese companies because “representative offices” do not engage in actual trade and thus are not eligible for E visas.
Generally speaking, the same type of workers qualify under the L & E classifications. Both require that the employee be an executive, a manager, or possess certain skills. For the L classification they are called “specialized knowledge”.
From our many years of experience, we feel a lower standard is required to get an L1B (specialized knowledge) approval than an essential skills E. Unfortunately, USCIS is getting more difficult in their adjudications of individual L1B visa petitions but this higher standard can be avoided if the company obtains a blanket L approval (please see this section on both our websites) since L’s under the blanket do not require USCIS approval.
Spouses (but not children) of L’s can obtain work authorization from USCIS which does not require proof of any special skills or an actual job offer.