International Company Transferees: General Procedures for Obtaining L-1 Status

The process of obtaining L-1 status depends upon whether a person is already in the United States or outside the United States. If a person is inside the United States in legal status and wishes to obtain L-1 status, the process involves one step. If a person is outside the United States, the process involves two steps.

• Step One: Filing the L-1 Petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
• Step Two: Applying for an L-1 Visa

However, if a multinational company has already been admitted into the Blanket L-1 Program, any qualifying person may apply for an L-1 visa directly at an overseas U.S. embassy or consulate. There is no need to file any petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This greatly expedites the transfer of personnel to the United States.