U.S. Executive Transfer Visa Lawyers Serving National and International Companies
When executive transferee immigration is your statewide, nationwide or global business goal, the experienced attorneys of Swanson & Swanson in Los Angeles can help.
I am Steven F. Swanson — who, along with our founder Otto F. Swanson and associate Stella Lin, compose a unique boutique law firm that is dedicated to making your employment-based immigration objective a reality.
Our skilled attorneys are solely focused upon immigration legal services. Immigration is all we do — and we do it well.
Our founder's work for the Immigration Service, which began in 1954, led to the establishment of our law offices. In the decades since, we have built a reputation for results for a diverse clientele that spans the continents. Our clients appreciate our extensive knowledge of all kinds of immigration law, our attentive personal service and the hard work we devote to getting the job done. We take an active interest in your immigration-related goals and endeavor to help you achieve them.
Swanson & Swanson — Employment-Based Immigration Decades of Experience
L-1A and L-1B employment authorization visas are available to employees of businesses with offices in the United States and abroad, provided the employees have worked abroad in an appropriate capacity for at least one out of the three years preceding the date for which the benefit is sought.
L-1A authorization is available to managers and executives. L-1B authorization is available to employees with "specialized knowledge." The purpose of the authorization is to permit the employee to carry out the same or similar function at a United States "branch office."
A branch office may be a subsidiary or an affiliated organization. The businesses may be corporate, joint ventures or sole proprietorships.
To speak to a knowledgeable immigration attorney about obtaining an L-1A or L-1B work visa for transfer employees, or to discuss your particular immigration situation, e-mail or call Swanson & Swanson at 310-694-5914.
As for the character of business conducted at the branch office and the foreign location, the activities do not have to be the same, nor does the U.S. branch office need to have existed for any length of time. In fact, the employee who is being transferred may be coming to the United States to setup the branch office.
Petitions for L-1A or L-1B authorization require documentation of:
- The existence of a foreign-based operation of at least one year in duration
- Existence of a United States branch office or at least the intent to start up a branch office
- Appropriate ownership and control of both operations one to another
- Employee's employment abroad in the appropriate capacity for one out of the past three years
- Intention to employ that employee in a similar capacity at the U.S. branch office
Employment in the past three years encompasses employment that occurred in one out of the three years from either the date the petition for L-1A or L-1B classification is to be filed or from the date the employee last came to the U.S. branch office to work as a nonimmigrant H-1B, E-1, E-2.
Employees who are qualified for the L-1A benefit may also be qualified for immigrant classification and acquire United States resident status. Once the United States branch office has been in operation for a year, L-1A employees may thereafter be entitled to multinational immigrant classification.
Swanson & Swanson lawyers have the firm grasp of business immigration law, clear focus on your goals and track record of success that will give you complete confidence in our abilities. We welcome the opportunity to serve you — in California, across the nation or around the world.
Contact Us
Get the facts and legal options you need to know about when immigration for executive employees becomes your company's objective. Contact our California attorneys at 310-694-5914 to arrange an initial consultation.
