Intra-Company Transfer L-1 WORK-BASED GREEN CARDS MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION FAMILY- SPONSORED IMMIGRATION GREEN CARDS FOR ABUSED OR WIDOWED US CITIZENSHIP BUSINESS INVESTOR OPTIONS Back to Home Page
Our Web Site is available in: CZECH FRENCH GERMAN HUNGARIAN SPANISH		Intra-Company Transfer L-1 Foreigners who own a business in their home country, may establish a U.S. affiliate company, and obtain an L-1 manager visa to come to the U.S. and manage the U.S. business. Likewise, if they are a managerial or specialist employee of a multinational company, and are being transferred to an affiliate company located in the U.S., they may obtain an L-1 visa to work in the U.S. An L-1 manager can maintain this visa for up to seven years, renewing in 2- to 3-year increments. An L-1 specialist can maintain the visa for up to 5 years, also renewing in 2- to 3-year increments. To qualify for the L-1 visa, the following requirements must be met: the foreign business must be a parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the U.S. business. This is achieved through joint-ownership: one business owns the other, or the same individual has a controlling interest in both businesses, or the same group of individuals jointly hold a controlling interest in both businesses. the L-1 manager must supervise multiple levels of workers in the U.S. company or else a specific function within the company. An L-1 specialist must have specialized, proprietary knowledge or skills from the foreign business which he is coming to teach to U.S. workers. the L-1 manager or specialist must have worked at least one complete, continuous year out of the previous three years for the foreign business which is transferring him to the U.S. A foreign worker can go about applying for the L-1 visa in one of two ways. If the person is present in the U.S. in most types of valid non-immigrant status, he can apply to change to L-1 status from within the U.S. by applying to the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). If the person is outside of the U.S., or is visiting the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (without a visa), the sponsoring employer must apply at the CIS service center. Once the CIS approves the petition, the foreign worker must apply to the U.S. consulate in the country of his residence. Additional advantages of the L-1 visa: The L-1 visa does not require any specific investment amount. An important requirement, though, particularly for maintaining an L-1 manager visa, is that the L-1 manager supervises several employees at multiple levels within the business, so that he is not seen as performing the everyday work of the business. There is a specific green card category available for L-1 managers, which is called the EB-1 multinational manager green card. If an L-1 manager is highly qualified for the L-1 visa, he also has a good chance at obtaining the EB-1 multinational manager green card. The spouse of an L-1 manager or specialist can obtain a work authorization to work for any employer in any type of job. The L-1 visa holder can apply for the green card without worrying about his ability to renew his visa. The information above is intended as a general description. Each individual's case requires specific advice and our firm offers an introductory consultation to review your case, the cost of which can be rebated against any retainer. We can assist you in getting settled in any U.S. state, and if so required, we will gladly form your U.S. corporation in the state of your choice.
Back to top!		Main Office: 2020 Cattlemen Road, Suite 100 Sarasota, Florida 34232 Phone: (941) 362-7100 Fax: (941) 362-7107 South Office: 13180 N. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 112 N. Fort Myers, Florida 33903 Phone: (239) 332-4545 Fax: (941) 362-7107
		© 2003 Anthony Olson, P.A. All logos and trade marks or names are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. Page uploaded 11/27/2007.