What are the Benefits of L-1 Visas for Foreign Workers?
If you are an employee and your company has a current office in the United States, or your employer is thinking about establishing one, an L-1 visa has many benefits that can help you enter the United States to work. The L-1 visa is for temporary workers and they have many benefits. As an employee, your employer must sponsor you for this type of visa, as self-petitioning is not possible. Below, our Florida immigration lawyer explains the benefits of these visas.
Minimal Requirements
There are many visas available to foreign workers who are looking for employment within the U.S. Many of these, however, have many requirements that are difficult for temporary workers to fulfill. For example, the TN visa is only available to foreign nationals from Canada and Mexico. An E-2 visa requires significant investment in a U.S. company, and the O-1 visa requires applicants to have an extraordinary ability.
The L-1 visa, on the other hand, only requires a foreign national to be an executive, manager, or specialized worker in a multinational company to qualify. This provides many opportunities for individuals who would otherwise be ineligible for other work visas.
No Offer of Employment is Required
One of the hardest qualifications for an H-1B, TN, or J-1 visa is that a temporary foreign worker needs to have an existing offer of employment. L-1 applicants, though, already work for a company in the United States that is willing to sponsor them and so, no job offer is required.
No Annual Caps
The L-1 visa has many similarities to the H-1B visa and so, the two are often compared to each other. However, they have many important differences, including the annual limit placed on them. Every year, only a small number of applications are randomly selected from a pool of H-1 visas petitions. For people subject to this lottery, obtaining a visa is very challenging.
There is no annual cap placed on L-1 visas and so, applications cannot be denied due to a lack of available visas.
A Pathway to a Green Card
Like other types of nonimmigrant visas, the L-1 visa is considered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) a dual-intent visa. This means that employees can pursue lawful permanent residence after they arrive in the country. Applying for a green card while in the U.S. on another type of work visa, such as the J-1, can violate your status and result in serious consequences.
Our Immigration Lawyer in Florida Can Advise On Your Case
Whether you are an employer or an employee, an L-1 visa can have many benefits for you and your company. At Florida Law Advisers, P.A., our Florida immigration lawyer can review the facts of your case, help you determine if an L-1 visa is right for you, and guide you through the process to give you the best chance of a positive outcome. Call us today at 1 (800) 990-7763 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal help you need.
Source:
travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html
