L-1 / Work guide
Map the company, the role and the transfer
Compare L-1A managers and executives with L-1B specialized knowledge workers and prepare a clear intracompany-transfer evidence file.
The starting point
A transfer letter does not establish an L-1 case on its own. The relationship between the organizations, your overseas employment and your intended U.S. duties all need attention.
Separate L-1A from L-1B
L-1A concerns managerial or executive capacity. L-1B concerns specialized knowledge relating to the organization. A senior title is not a substitute for an explanation of the actual work.
Use the L-1A manager and executive reference alongside the L-1B specialized knowledge guide when discussing which category the employer intends to support.
Establish the organizational relationship
USCIS requires a qualifying relationship between the U.S. and foreign organizations and qualifying business activity. Generally, the employee must have worked for a qualifying organization abroad for one continuous year within the relevant preceding three-year period.
Prepare a dated company chart showing ownership and the relationship between the entities. Keep it separate from a staff chart, which answers a different question. If names have changed following a merger or restructuring, collect the records that explain the change.
Describe the work in concrete terms
For a management case, describe responsibilities, decision-making authority and the organization or function managed. For specialized knowledge, explain what the knowledge is, how it was acquired and how it is used. Avoid replacing evidence with phrases such as ‘essential employee’ or ‘highly skilled’.
- A timeline of overseas employment, including relevant interruptions.
- Accurate descriptions of the overseas and proposed U.S. roles.
- Company relationship and business-operation records.
- Supporting examples that explain the role without exposing unnecessary confidential material.
A new office needs a separate discussion
USCIS identifies additional requirements for new-office petitions. The L-1A and L-1B guidance should be read separately because the requirements are not identical. An existing foreign business and a newly rented U.S. address do not, by themselves, resolve the case.
Discuss premises, staffing, financial support and the intended activities with the employer’s adviser. Keep projections clearly identified as projections rather than presenting them as current operations.
Coordinate the relocation plan
Ask the employer who owns each task: corporate evidence, employee records, petition preparation, consular steps and travel arrangements. Keep family planning and work-permission questions on the same project calendar, but do not assume every accompanying family member has identical rights.
Review the case before changes to the job, employer structure or worksite. Check current official fees and procedures rather than relying on the cost of a colleague’s earlier transfer.
Your preparation notes
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Official sources and review
Reviewed 2 October 2026. Requirements can change; consult the linked official instructions before applying. This article explains a category and preparation questions, not your individual eligibility. How we review our guides.