Michigan Immigration Lawyer

Helping Clients in and around Detroit with Immigration Needs

International employment is becoming more and more popular as businesses are establishing branch operations and subsidiaries in other countries. When a U.S. company with foreign operations or subsidiaries seeks to transfer one of its foreign employees to one of its U.S. operations, the L-1 visa may be the appropriate option.

The L-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa which allows companies operating both in the U.S. and abroad to transfer certain classes of employee to its U.S. operations for up to seven years. There are certain requirements, however. For instances, the employee must have worked for a subsidiary, parent, affiliate or branch office of the U.S. company outside of the U.S. for at least one year out of the last three years.

There are two types of employees who may be sponsored for L-1 visas: (1) managers and executives; and (2) specialized knowledge staff. Michigan L-1 visa attorney David Newman is well-versed in handling L-1 visa applications for both types of employees. Contact his office at (248) 737-1824 to learn more about the requirements and application process for obtaining an L-1 visa.

Managers and Executives

An executive is an employee who:

• Directs the management of the organization or a major component or function of the organization;
• Establishes the goals and policies of the organization, component, or function;
• Exercises wide latitude in discretionary decision-making; and
  Receives only general supervision or direction from higher level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the organization.

A manager is an employee who:

• Manages the company, or a department, subdivision, function or component of the company;
• Supervises and controls the work of other supervisors, professionals or managers, or manages an essential function within the company;
• Has the authority to hire and fire supervised employees or make recommendations for promotions; and
• Directs day-to-day operations within the employee’s authority.

Managers and executives are L-1A visa, initially for a three year period extendible in two year increments to a maximum of seven years.

Specialized Knowledge Staff

Employees with specialized knowledge of the company’s products/services, research, systems, proprietary techniques, management, or procedures are eligible for an L-1B visa, which is initially issued for three years and is extendible for up five years.

Blanket L-1 Approval

Some companies may qualify for a blanket L-1 visa approval, which allows the business to include an unlimited number of qualifying foreign parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or branch offices within a blanket L-1 visa petition. In order to qualify for the blanket L-1 approval, a business must (i) be engaged in commercial trade or services, (ii) have done business in the United States for at least one year, (iii) have at least three offices in the United States and abroad, and (iv) meet one of the following employment and sales requirements:

• Sponsored at least 10 successful individual L-1 visas applications in the past 12 months;
• Realized annual sales in the U.S. of at least 25,000,000; or
• Employed more than 1,000 employees in the U.S.

Knowledgeable Immigration Advice

If you want to learn more about your visa immigration options, contact Detroit area immigration lawyer David Newman at (248) 737-1824 to learn more about the visa options available for your situation, including a possible L-1 intracompany transfer visa.