L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Manager) vs L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialized Knowledge)

If you're choosing between these two, the question usually comes down to your role at your company. Both L-1A and L-1B are intracompany transfer visas for the same employer, but they target different job levels. Your position, timeline to permanent residency, and sponsorship situation will determine which path makes sense for you.

1. 01

   Your job role

   Pick L-1A

   Choose L-1A if you're a manager or executive overseeing operations or staff.

   Pick L-1B

   Choose L-1B if you have specialized knowledge in a technical or specialized field.

2. 02

   Speed to green card

   Pick L-1A

   L-1A gets you there faster, with a path to PR in roughly 2 years.

   Pick L-1B

   L-1B takes longer, typically 5 years to permanent residency eligibility.

3. 03

   Employer sponsorship

   Pick L-1A

   L-1A does not explicitly require an employer sponsor to file.

   Pick L-1B

   L-1B requires an active employer sponsor throughout the process.

4. 04

   Processing timeline

   Pick L-1A

   L-1A processing is faster, taking 1 to 3 months on average.

   Pick L-1B

   L-1B can take longer, ranging from 1 to 6 months for approval.