L-1A Intracompany Transferee
L-1A Intracompany Transferee
Strategic global mobility counsel for multinational corporations, international founders, and key executives expanding operations to the United States.
Strategic global mobility counsel for multinational corporations, international founders, and key executives expanding operations to the United States.
Advantages
Advantages
Path to Green Card
Path to Green Card
As a dual intent visa, it provides a path to permanent residency without the long labor certification process.
As a dual intent visa, it provides a path to permanent residency without the long labor certification process.
Family Integration
Family Integration
Spouses are generally allowed to work and children under 21 may attend U.S. schools.
Spouses are generally allowed to work and children under 21 may attend U.S. schools.
Blanket Petition
Blanket Petition
The blanket petition allows large multinational companies to easily transfer multiple executives under one approval.
The blanket petition allows large multinational companies to easily transfer multiple executives under one approval.
Requirements
Requirements
Qualifying Corporate Link
Qualifying Corporate Link
The U.S. entity and the foreign company must share common ownership and control, functioning as a parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.
The U.S. entity and the foreign company must share common ownership and control, functioning as a parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.
The U.S. entity and the foreign company must share common ownership and control, functioning as a parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.
Active Global Operations
Active Global Operations
Both the U.S. entity and the foreign company must be actively and continuously engaged in the commercial provision of goods or services for the entire duration of your visa.
Both the U.S. entity and the foreign company must be actively and continuously engaged in the commercial provision of goods or services for the entire duration of your visa.
Both the U.S. entity and the foreign company must be actively and continuously engaged in the commercial provision of goods or services for the entire duration of your visa.
Foreign Employment Timeline
Foreign Employment Timeline
Within the three years immediately preceding the petition, the executive or manager must have been employed directly by the foreign entity for at least one continuous, uninterrupted year.
Within the three years immediately preceding the petition, the executive or manager must have been employed directly by the foreign entity for at least one continuous, uninterrupted year.
Executive or Managerial Capacity
Executive or Managerial Capacity
The transferee must direct the management of the organization, a major department, or a critical function, rather than performing front-line operational tasks.
The transferee must direct the management of the organization, a major department, or a critical function, rather than performing front-line operational tasks.
The transferee must direct the management of the organization, a major department, or a critical function, rather than performing front-line operational tasks.
Establishing a New U.S. Office vs. Expanding Existing Operations
Establishing a New U.S. Office vs. Expanding Existing Operations
The requirements change based on your U.S. company's maturity.
The requirements change based on your U.S. company's maturity.
New Office
Established Office
For:
U.S. entities that have been active for less than one year.
Goal:
Secure physical premises, hire initial staff, and commence commercial operations.
Visa Validity:
1 Year initially (requires a robust extension filing at the end of year one).
What You Need:
Signed commercial office lease (co-working spaces and home offices are highly scrutinized).
Comprehensive 5-year business plan with aggressive hiring and revenue projections.
Proof of capitalization (funds transferred to the U.S. corporate account).
New Office
Established Office
For:
U.S. entities that have been active for less than one year.
Goal:
Secure physical premises, hire initial staff, and commence commercial operations.
Visa Validity:
1 Year initially (requires a robust extension filing at the end of year one).
What You Need:
Signed commercial office lease (co-working spaces and home offices are highly scrutinized).
Comprehensive 5-year business plan with aggressive hiring and revenue projections.
Proof of capitalization (funds transferred to the U.S. corporate account).
Our Process
Our Process
1
Corporate Structuring
Corporate Structuring
We don’t just fill out forms. We audit your global entity structure to ensure the exact ownership and control metrics legally satisfy the "Qualifying Relationship" standard.
We don’t just fill out forms. We audit your global entity structure to ensure the exact ownership and control metrics legally satisfy the "Qualifying Relationship" standard.
2
Business Plan
Business Plan
For an L-1A, the business plan is a legal document, not a pitch deck. We craft the precise narrative required to prove your "Executive" or "Managerial" function to USCIS or the consulate.
For an L-1A, the business plan is a legal document, not a pitch deck. We craft the precise narrative required to prove your "Executive" or "Managerial" function to USCIS or the consulate.
3
Petition Assembly & Filing
Petition Assembly & Filing
We compile the corporate financials, organizational charts, and legal briefs, filing seamlessly with USCIS or the appropriate U.S. Consulate abroad.
We compile the corporate financials, organizational charts, and legal briefs, filing seamlessly with USCIS or the appropriate U.S. Consulate abroad.
4
Extensions & Green Card Strategy
Extensions & Green Card Strategy
Whether preparing for a rapid 1-year "New Office" extension or strategizing your seamless transition to an EB-1C permanent residency (Green Card), our counsel continues long after your initial approval.
Whether preparing for a rapid 1-year "New Office" extension or strategizing your seamless transition to an EB-1C permanent residency (Green Card), our counsel continues long after your initial approval.
Visa Application& Change of Status
Visa Application& Change of Status
Visa Application
Change of Status
Where You Apply
USCIS first, then a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
Current Location
Outside the U.S. (or willing to travel)
Travel Ability
High: Grants a physical visa stamp allowing international travel & reentry.
Processing Speed
USCIS processing (months, or 15 business days via Premium) + embassy wait times.
Visa Application
Change of Status
Where You Apply
USCIS first, then a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
Current Location
Outside the U.S. (or willing to travel)
Travel Ability
High: Grants a physical visa stamp allowing international travel & reentry.
Processing Speed
USCIS processing (months, or 15 business days via Premium) + embassy wait times.
L-1A Visa Appplication
Where You Apply
USCIS first, then a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
Current Location
Outside the U.S. (or willing to travel)
Travel Ability
High: Grants a physical visa stamp allowing international travel & reentry.
Processing Speed
USCIS processing (months, or 15 business days via Premium) + embassy wait times.
L-1A Change of Status
Where You Apply
Inside the U.S. (via USCIS entirely)
Current Location
Legally inside the U.S. on another valid visa
Travel Ability
Low: Grants legal status only. If you leave the U.S., you must apply for a visa abroad to return.
Processing Speed
Typically months, but Premium Processing guarantees an initial response within 15 business days.
Checklist for L-1A visa
Checklist for L-1A visa
Corporate Documents (U.S. & Foreign Entities)
Corporate Documents (U.S. & Foreign Entities)
Proof of Entity
Stock certificates or ownership documents showing the link between the two companies.
Commercial lease agreement for U.S. office.
Financial Viability
The Executive's Documents (Beneficiary)
The Executive's Documents (Beneficiary)
12 months of pay stubs or payroll records from the foreign company.
Organizational charts showing your position above other professionals or managers.
Resume & CV to detail executive experience and track record.
Resources
Resources
How We Work
How We Work
A deliberately limited caseload
A deliberately limited caseload
We take on fewer matters than a high-volume firm, by design. Your case receives focused, senior-level attention, not a place in a queue of hundreds.
We take on fewer matters than a high-volume firm, by design. Your case receives focused, senior-level attention, not a place in a queue of hundreds.
Every filing reviewed, then reviewed again
Every filing reviewed, then reviewed again
Before anything reaches the government, it passes through a careful, multi-step review. The small errors and inconsistencies that trigger Requests for Evidence, delays, and denials are precisely what that process is built to catch.
Before anything reaches the government, it passes through a careful, multi-step review. The small errors and inconsistencies that trigger Requests for Evidence, delays, and denials are precisely what that process is built to catch.
Direct access to your attorney
Direct access to your attorney
You work with the attorney handling your case from start to finish, clear answers, proactive updates, one point of accountability, not a rotating cast of assistants.
You work with the attorney handling your case from start to finish, clear answers, proactive updates, one point of accountability, not a rotating cast of assistants.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.