L1 Visa Requirements: Complete UK Guide for 2025

What Is the L1 Visa?

The L1 visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows multinational companies to transfer employees from foreign offices to US offices. USCIS classifies it as an intracompany transferee visa, designed for executives, managers, and workers with specialized knowledge (USCIS, July 2024).

Think of the L1 as an internal company bridge. Rather than hiring externally in the US, companies move existing talent across borders to fill critical roles.

Key features of the L1 visa:

• No annual numerical cap
• Dual intent permitted (you may pursue a green card)
• Dependents receive L2 visas with work authorisation
• Available year-round without lottery

The L1 visa comes in two categories: L1A for executives and managers, and L1B for specialized knowledge workers. Each has different validity periods and green card pathways.

L1A vs L1B Visa: Key Differences

The L1A offers a more straightforward path to permanent residence through the EB-1C category, which does not require labor certification. L1B holders face a longer green card process and must navigate the PERM labor certification system.

USCIS has historically scrutinized L1B petitions more heavily. The agency's 2015 policy memo tightened the definition of "specialized knowledge," leading to increased denials (USCIS Policy Memorandum, March 2015). Applicants should prepare thorough documentation demonstrating why their knowledge is genuinely specialized and not simply skilled.

L1 Visa Requirements for Employees

To qualify for an L1 visa, employees must meet specific criteria related to their employment history and job role.

Prior Employment Requirements

The core requirement: you must have worked for the qualifying foreign company for at least one continuous year within the three years immediately before your US transfer (USCIS, July 2024).

• Employment must be full-time
• The year must be continuous (no breaks)
• Part-time work does not count toward the one-year requirement
• The role abroad must be in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity

If you left the company and returned, the one-year clock restarts. Brief business trips to the US during your qualifying year generally do not interrupt continuity, but extended US assignments may cause complications.

Qualifying Roles and Positions

Your role must fall into one of three categories:

Executive capacity — You direct the management of the organisation or a major component. You establish goals and policies, exercise wide latitude in decision-making, and receive only general supervision from higher executives or the board.

Managerial capacity — You manage the organisation, a department, or a function. You supervise and control the work of professional employees or manage an essential function. First-line supervisors do not qualify unless they supervise professionals.

Specialized knowledge — You possess advanced knowledge of the company's products, services, research, equipment, or processes that is not widely held in the industry. Alternatively, you have advanced knowledge of the company's procedures that is distinct from general industry knowledge.

The specialized knowledge category causes the most denials. USCIS requires evidence that your knowledge is truly special to your company, not simply expert-level skills available in the US labor market.

L1 Visa Requirements for Employers

The petitioning US company must also meet strict requirements.

Qualifying Company Relationships

The US entity and foreign entity must have a qualifying relationship. Acceptable relationships include:

• Parent company and subsidiary
• Subsidiary and parent company
• Affiliate companies (common ownership or control)
• Branch offices of the same company

Both entities must be doing business. A shell company or dormant entity does not qualify. USCIS will examine ownership structures, financial records, and operational evidence.

Active Business Requirements

Both the US and foreign companies must be actively conducting business throughout the duration of the L1 holder's stay (USCIS, July 2024). This means:

• Regular, systematic, and continuous provision of goods or services
• Physical premises in both countries
• Employees and operational infrastructure
• Mere presence of an agent or office does not suffice

For new US offices, companies may petition for an L1 visa to send an employee to establish operations. However, these "new office" petitions receive only a one-year initial approval period, and the company must demonstrate significant progress at extension time.

Blanket L1 Petitions

Large multinational companies may qualify for blanket L1 status, which streamlines the process for frequent transfers. Requirements include:

• The petitioner and qualifying organisations are engaged in commercial trade or services
• The petitioner has a US office that has been doing business for one year or more
• The petitioner has three or more domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates
• The petitioner and qualifying organisations have obtained at least 10 L1 approvals in the past 12 months, OR have US subsidiaries or affiliates with combined annual sales of at least $25 million, OR have a US workforce of at least 1,000 employees

L1 Visa Documents Required

Employee Documents

• Valid passport (at least six months validity beyond intended stay)
• DS-160 confirmation page
• Visa application fee payment receipt
• Form I-797 approval notice (or I-129S for blanket petitions)
• Passport-style photograph meeting US visa requirements
• CV or resume detailing employment history
• Evidence of one year qualifying employment abroad
• Job offer letter describing US role and responsibilities
• Organisational charts showing position in both entities
• Letters from supervisors describing your role and specialized knowledge

Employer Documents

• Form I-129 petition (individual) or I-129S (blanket)
• Evidence of qualifying relationship between entities
• Financial documents (tax returns, annual reports, audited accounts)
• Business registration documents for both entities
• Lease agreements or property ownership evidence
• Organisational charts
• Evidence of employees and ongoing operations
• For new offices: business plan, evidence of premises, proof of sufficient funding

L1 Visa Application Process from the UK

The L1 visa application follows these steps:

1. Employer files Form I-129 with USCIS — The US company submits the petition with all supporting documentation. For blanket petitions, the employer files Form I-129S instead.
2. USCIS adjudicates the petition — Processing takes 2-6 months for standard cases. Premium processing (15 calendar days) is available for an additional fee.
3. Receive I-797 approval notice — Once approved, USCIS sends the approval notice to the employer.
4. Complete DS-160 online — The employee fills out the nonimmigrant visa application form and uploads a photograph.
5. Pay the visa application fee — Currently $185 for L1 visas (U.S. Department of State, 2024).
6. Schedule visa interview — Book an appointment at the US Embassy in London or the US Consulate in Belfast.
7. Attend visa interview — Bring all required documents. Interviews typically last 5-15 minutes.
8. Receive visa — If approved, your passport with the visa stamp is returned within 5-10 business days.

Note: Blanket L1 applicants may have their interviews waived in some circumstances, but this is not guaranteed.

L1 Visa Processing Time and Costs

Processing Times

Processing times fluctuate. Check the USCIS processing times page and US Embassy London website for current estimates.

Costs

Fees current as of USCIS fee schedule effective April 2024. Fees change periodically.

Total employer costs typically range from $1,560 to $4,365 or more, depending on premium processing and company size. Legal fees, if using an immigration attorney, add significantly to total costs.

L1 Visa Interview Questions

US consular officers assess whether you meet the L1 requirements. Common questions include:

• What is your current role and what will you do in the US?
• Describe your company's relationship between the UK and US offices
• How long have you worked for the company?
• What specialized knowledge do you have?
• Who will you report to in the US?
• How many people will report to you?
• What is the purpose of your transfer?

Preparation tips:

• Review your petition documents thoroughly
• Be ready to explain your role in simple terms
• Bring organisational charts and evidence of the company relationship
• For L1B applicants, prepare to articulate what makes your knowledge specialized
• Answer directly and honestly — consular officers are trained to detect inconsistencies

Denials at the interview stage are less common than petition denials, but they do occur. If the officer has concerns about your eligibility, they may request additional documentation or issue an administrative processing delay.

L1 Visa Validity and Extensions

Initial Validity Periods

• Individual L1 petition (existing US office): Up to 3 years
• Blanket L1 petition: Up to 3 years
• New office petition: 1 year only

Maximum Stay

• L1A: 7 years total
• L1B: 5 years total

Extensions

You may apply for extensions in two-year increments until you reach the maximum. Extensions require a new Form I-129 petition demonstrating continued eligibility.

After reaching maximum stay, you must remain outside the US for at least one year before qualifying for a new L1 visa, unless you have obtained a green card or changed to another status.

L1 Visa to Green Card Pathway

The L1 visa permits dual intent, meaning you may pursue permanent residence while holding L1 status.

L1A to Green Card (EB-1C)

L1A holders may qualify for the EB-1C multinational manager or executive green card category. Key advantages:

• No PERM labor certification required
• Faster processing than EB-2 or EB-3
• No job posting or recruitment testing needed

The employer files Form I-140 directly. Current processing times for EB-1C vary by USCIS service center but typically range from 6-18 months (USCIS, 2024).

L1B to Green Card (EB-2 or EB-3)

L1B holders must pursue the EB-2 or EB-3 categories, which require:

• PERM labor certification (employer tests the US labor market)
• Form I-140 immigrant petition
• Adjustment of status or consular processing

The PERM process alone takes 8-18 months. For UK nationals, visa backlogs are minimal, but total processing from PERM to green card often exceeds 2-3 years.

Risks and limitations:

• L1B holders on five-year maximum may run out of time before completing the green card process
• PERM denials can reset the timeline
• Company must remain willing to sponsor throughout
• Economic downturns may lead to layoffs that terminate sponsorship

L1 Visa vs H1B: Which Is Better?

Neither visa is universally better. The L1 suits employees of multinationals seeking predictable transfers without lottery risk. The H1B offers more flexibility for job changes but comes with significant lottery uncertainty.

FAQs About L1 Visa Requirements