Corporate Mobility / United States / Route
United States · Investment route
Transfer to your employer’s US arm after a year abroad. No cap, no lottery, and L-1A feeds directly into the EB-1C green card — India’s second-fastest employment route.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE residents on US immigration from our Dubai office.
Overview
The USA L1 Corporate Transfer Visa allows international companies to transfer executives, managers, or key staff to their U.S. branch or subsidiary. Designed for business expansion and intra-company transfers, the L1 visa offers a pathway to permanent residency (Green Card) and allows 100% foreign ownership of your U.S. entity. It’s an ideal route for global businesses establishing a U.S. presence with full operational control.
Filing fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Form I-129 petition, L classification | USD 1,385 |
| Fraud prevention and detection fee (initial petitions) | USD 500 |
| Asylum Program Fee | USD 600 (USD 300 small employer, nil nonprofit) |
| Public Law 114-113 fee, employers with 50 or more US staff of whom more than half hold H-1B or L status | USD 4,500 |
| Premium processing (optional) | USD 2,965, response within 15 business days |
L-1 has no annual cap and no lottery, and it is not affected by the H-1B USD 100,000 payment. State Department visa fees are paid separately at the consular stage.
Talk to a US immigration consultant in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has advised families on US green cards and work visas since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents applying from the Emirates. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022.
If you want a straight answer on which US route is realistic for your profile, our immigration consultants in Dubai will give you one — including when the answer is no.
Sources
- US Department of State — temporary worker visas
- US Department of State — Visa Bulletin for October 2026
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 8 CFR 106.2 (USCIS fee schedule)
- Federal Register — Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees (effective 1 March 2026)
Verified against travel.state.gov, the Federal Register and the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations on 30 September 2026. USCIS processing times vary by service centre and change frequently; XIPHIAS confirms the current published time when your petition is filed.
At a glanceلمحة
Key highlights
- ✦Corporate Transfer
- ✦L1A Visa
- ✦Business Expansion
- ✦USA
What you getالمزايا
L1 visa available year-round with no lottery or quota.
Allows executives and managers to work in the U.S. for a related company.
Spouses can work and children can study under L2 visas.
Pathway to U.S. permanent residency via EB1C Green Card.
Premium processing option for faster L1 visa approval.
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Government & due-diligence fees
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Employee must have worked at least one year in a qualifying foreign company.
U.S. and foreign companies must have a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate link.
Both entities must show active business operations.
Proof of executive or managerial role with supporting documents.
Provide valid passport, company papers, lease, and tax records.
Who cannot apply
No valid link between U.S. and foreign companies.
Less than one year of qualifying overseas employment.
Missing or incomplete company or financial records.
Foreign entity inactive or not conducting real business.
The processكيف نعمل
Register U.S. Company
Form an LLC or corporation and obtain an EIN for L1 visa setup.
Prepare L1 Visa Petition
Show company link, job role, and business plan for USCIS approval.
File I-129 Form
Submit L1 visa petition to USCIS with supporting documents.
Attend Visa Interview
Complete DS-160 and attend interview at the U.S. consulate.
Receive L1 Visa
Get visa approval to enter and work in the US.
Maintain Compliance
Keep payroll, tax filings, and renew your L1 visa on time.
Sponsorship & salary rulesالرواتب
- ✦Applicant must have one year of continuous full-time work with the foreign company in the last three years.
- ✦The U.S. and foreign entities must have a valid corporate relationship — parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch.
- ✦A U.S. office lease and business plan are required for new office setups.
Free zone comparisonالمناطق الحرة
USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)
- ✦Handles all L1 petition filings and adjudications.
- ✦Premium processing (USD 2,965) gives a response within 15 business days.
- ✦Strict documentation required for company relationship and managerial capacity.
U.S. Department of State
- ✦Processes consular interviews and visa issuance abroad.
- ✦DS-160 and consulate fees apply.
- ✦Interview waiver may be possible for renewals.
IRS (Internal Revenue Service)
- ✦Employer Identification Number (EIN) required before payroll setup.
- ✦Foreign-owned entities may have additional reporting obligations.
Risk notes
L-1 has no annual cap and is not touched by the H-1B proclamation payment or the wage-weighted selection rule.
Employers with 50 or more US staff of whom more than half hold H-1B or L status pay an additional USD 4,500 fee on an L-1 petition under Public Law 114-113.
The qualifying year abroad must be with the same employer group, within the three years immediately before the petition. Gaps and entity restructures are where these cases fail.
Maximum periods of stay are set by 8 CFR 214.2(l): up to 7 years for L-1A and 5 years for L-1B, including extensions. XIPHIAS confirms the limits that apply to your case before filing.
Compliance
L-1A is for managers and executives; L-1B is for employees with specialised knowledge.
You must have worked for the same employer group abroad for one year within the three preceding years.
The US employer must be a branch, parent, affiliate or subsidiary of the foreign employer.
Blanket-L applicants must present Form I-129S at the visa interview. Fraud prevention and border security fees may apply.
Filing fees: Form I-129 for L classification is USD 1,385, plus the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 and a fraud prevention and detection fee of USD 500.
Premium processing is available at USD 2,965 with a 15 business day response.
State Department visa fees, including any reciprocity-based issuance fee for your nationality, are paid at the consular stage.
L-1A managers often qualify later for the EB-1C green card, where India’s final action date is 1 February 2023 — far ahead of EB-2 and EB-3 at roughly 13 years.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
Managers, executives, or key staff transferring from a foreign branch or subsidiary to a U.S. company.
Start the United States route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.