For a regular employer the USCIS fees add up to $2,485 per initial petition, before premium processing. If you manage people or a function instead, the L-1A is the better fit: same 1-year rule, but 7 years and a faster green card route.
L-1B visa requirements
The USCIS L-1B page sets three tests:
- Related companies. The US employer and the company you work for abroad must be a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of each other. USCIS calls these qualifying organizations.
- 1 year abroad. You generally need 1 continuous year with that foreign company within the 3 years before you are admitted to the US.
- Specialized knowledge. Either special knowledge of the company's products, services or research and how they are used in international markets, or an advanced level of knowledge of its processes and procedures.
The job title does not decide it. Per the USCIS Policy Manual, special knowledge has to be distinct or uncommon compared with similar workers in the industry, and advanced knowledge has to be further developed than that of other workers in the company. Knowledge most people in the field share does not count.
L-1A vs L-1B
Both visas use the same form and the same 1-year rule. The role and the clock are what differ. Figures below come from the L-1B and L-1A pages and the USCIS fee schedule.
| L-1B | L-1A | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Employees with specialized knowledge | Managers and executives |
| Work abroad first | 1 continuous year in the last 3 | 1 continuous year in the last 3 |
| Initial stay | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 years |
| New US office | Up to 1 year at first | Up to 1 year at first |
| Extensions | Up to 2 years each | Up to 2 years each |
| Maximum stay | 5 years | 7 years |
| USCIS fees, regular employer | $2,485 | $2,485 |
| Premium processing | $2,965, 15 business days | $2,965, 15 business days |
| Usual green card route | EB-2 or EB-3, usually with labor certification | EB-1C, no labor certification |
Our L-1A vs L-1B comparison puts both side by side with the rest of our data.
Fees, processing time and premium processing
The $2,485 is the regular employer total for an initial paper petition on the G-1055 fee schedule:
- Form I-129 L fee: $1,385 on paper or $1,335 online. Small employers and nonprofits pay $695.
- Asylum Program Fee: $600, or $300 for small employers and $0 for nonprofits.
- Fraud Prevention and Detection fee: $500 for an initial L approval or a change of employer.
- Extra $4,500: for petitioners with 50 or more US employees where more than half are on H-1B, L-1A or L-1B, for petitions filed on or before Sept. 30, 2027.
Our catalogue puts regular processing at about 1–6 months for L-1B. Premium processing costs $2,965 on top, and USCIS aims to act on L petitions within 15 business days. Your employer pays these fees, not you.
How long you can stay
A normal L-1B starts with up to 3 years. Extensions come in steps of up to 2 years until you hit 5 years in total. L-1A runs the same way but stops at 7 years.
Opening a new US office
Spouse and children: the L-2 visa
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come with you or join later, generally in L-2 status. A spouse in valid L-2S status is employment authorized incident to status, per USCIS, so they can work without waiting on a separate permit.
Blanket L petitions
Large companies can get a blanket L approval once and then transfer employees under it. Per USCIS, the US office must have done business for 1 year or more and the group needs 3 or more domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries and affiliates. It must also meet one of these: 10 L-1 approvals in the last 12 months, US subsidiaries or affiliates with combined annual sales of at least $25 million, or a US workforce of at least 1,000. The blanket does not guarantee your own L-1B: you still have to qualify.
L-1B to green card
This is where L-1A pulls ahead. Multinational managers and executives can use EB-1C, where USCIS says no labor certification is required. You need 1 year abroad in the 3 years before the petition, working for the related company in a managerial or executive role, and the US employer must have done business for at least 1 year. A year abroad in a specialized knowledge role does not qualify.
An L-1B holder usually goes through an employer-sponsored EB-2 or EB-3 petition instead. Both usually need a labor certification from the Department of Labor first, and EB-3 needs a permanent full-time job offer, which adds time. If your role grows into managing people or a function, ask your employer about moving you to L-1A before your 5 years run out.
L-1B or H-1B?
If you already work for a company with a US office, the L-1B skips the H-1B lottery. If you want to change employers, it does not help. See H-1B vs L-1B and our H-1B guide. Moving from India? The India to US routes guide and the Indian citizens to the US page cover the other options. Not sure which route fits? Try the which visa checker.
Frequently asked questions
What is an L-1B visa?
The L-1B lets a company with offices abroad and in the US transfer an employee who has specialized knowledge of its products, services or internal processes to its US office. The employee must have worked for the related foreign company for 1 continuous year in the 3 years before coming to the US.
What are the L-1B visa requirements?
The US and foreign companies must be related as parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. You need 1 continuous year with the foreign company in the last 3 years, and you must be coming to a role that uses specialized knowledge. Your employer files Form I-129. You cannot apply on your own.
What is the difference between L-1A and L-1B?
L-1A is for managers and executives and allows up to 7 years. L-1B is for specialized knowledge employees and allows up to 5 years. L-1A also lines up with the EB-1C green card, which needs no labor certification.
How long does L-1B processing take?
Our catalogue puts regular processing at about 1–6 months. With premium processing, USCIS aims to act within 15 business days for an extra $2,965.
Can I get a green card from an L-1B?
Yes, but usually through an employer-sponsored EB-2 or EB-3 petition, and both usually need a labor certification first. The faster EB-1C route is for multinational managers and executives, so moving into an L-1A role first is a common plan.
Can my spouse work on an L-2 visa?
Yes. USCIS says spouses of L-1 workers in valid L-2S status are employment authorized incident to status. Unmarried children under 21 can also come in L-2 status, but they do not get that work authorization.
What is a blanket L petition?
A one-time approval for large companies so they do not need a separate petition for each transfer. The US office must have done business for at least a year, the group needs 3 or more related offices, and it must meet one size test such as 1,000 US employees.
More guides
- India to US Immigration 2026: Work Visas and Green Card →
- US EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card Guide →
- EB-1A Processing Time 2026: Premium vs Regular →
- US EB-2 NIW Green Card: Self-Petition Without a Job Offer (2026) →
- What Is the EB-5 Visa? The US Investor Green Card in 2026 →
- United States immigration guide →
- L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialized Knowledge) →
- L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Manager) →
Checked on: the visa figures cited in this guide come from the Transita visa database, whose entries were last reviewed between 2 May 2026 and 26 October 2026.
official sources: L-1B · uscis.gov·L-1A · uscis.gov