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Thursday, 30 April 2015

Who Can Apply For L1 Visa?



The US L 1 Visa is a temporary non immigrant entry arrangement that enables foreign companies, having their offices in the country or intending to open one on the US soil, to send their important employees to manage critical functions at management, executive level, the permit for this category is defined as L-1 A; or manage operations in a department considered to be vital for functioning of the company’s business by using their expertise and specialization, this pathway is defined under category L-1 B. The employees or beneficiaries entering the country on the basis of this arrangement do not need to specially procure work permit; and besides this, the personnel sent to the USA can continue to work in gainful employment. But, however, the personnel being shifted to the country under this arrangement are not allowed to work for any entity, except the one transferring them.

An organization intending to file for entry permission, on behalf of its employees, under such an arrangement needs to fulfill certain requirements; it needs to prove to the authorities of the USA that the company applying for this arrangement is in a bonafide relationship with its American counterpart, i.e. the American company must have either of the listed relationships with the foreign entity:
·         It could be a wholly owned subsidiary of the foreign business organization; or
·         It could be an affiliate of the foreign owned company; or
·         It could be simply a fully operational branch  of the foreign commercial organization; or
·         It could be a parent undertaking of the overseas company filing an application for this non-immigrant permit.  

L1 Visa law also mandates that companies keen to move their personnel on the basis of this permit should be in a position to substantiate that they would be providing employment to the locals; and carrying out their commercial activities till the time, the employees transferred to United States stay in the country.  The definition of the commercial activities as defined by the statutes implies that activity that involves full-fledged business operations involving offering commodities and services in the local market.

The companies keen set their foot on the American soil, i.e. setup a fresh fully operational commercial node in the country can also file for the US L1 Visa and send in their pioneer employees to the country through the 1 - A or 1 - B options. To obtain entry permission under this temporary arrangement, they must evidence being in possession of a business address in the country. They must also be able to prove that the office being established in the country would be in a position to sustain people at managerial or executive levels; or the people working in critical concept areas of the company.

Besides all the above mentioned requirements, companies eager to Apply For L – 1 Visa ‘A’ or ‘B’ must also prove certain facts in relation to the employees being transferred to the United States of America, like
·         Personnel being transferred temporarily to the country have been working at overseas location of the company for at least last 1 year, immediately before the date of application for this arrangement; and
·         The personnel after being transferred to the country, would work in same capacity as mentioned in the petition;
·         The company would be responsible for all the expenditure incurred on the personnel being transferred to the country, i.e. in terms of health, etc.

Most of the   requirements of this arrangement are quite easy to comply with as the government of the USA intends to promote the country as a lucrative and a very competitive business destination.



For help and information on Visas immigration or any other query, fill this free assessment form http://goo.gl/forms/0eQsIQa83r

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